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© K CO . INC.. 


THE OLD FOLKS AT HOME 

All the world am dark and dreary, 
Ev’rywhere I roam, 

O darkies, how my heart g,rows weary. 
Far from the Old Folks at Home. 


Good Ni^kt 

olovies 

h 

LAURA RO'UNTREf SMITH 



///us fruted hy 

C. JM.Burd 

Vi o I et Moore Higgins 


CHICAGO 

STOn8N^«^VAN\!lET6 

PUBLISHERS 



TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

Grandpa Grundy’s Merry Christmas 5 

A Jolly July Picnic Party 14 

The Queen of May 24 

Little Dwarf Laughter 32 

Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail 41 

In Apple Blossom Town 52 

A Red, White and Blue Story 60 

A Valentine Story 69 

The Cookie Man 79 

Little Play-Fair 84 

The Little Boy Who Liked to Wear Rubbers 89 

Little I Can’t and Little Miss Try 94 

Fairy Wide-A-Wake 99 

Good Health Thoughts 104 

Little Miss By and By 105 

Little Sir Waste-A-Bit 110 

Little Boy Bear 114 

Tine Holiday Hare 117 


Grandpa Grundy’s 
Merry Christmas 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

Good night, sleep tight, 

Sing the twinkling stars so bright. 

Now, the story book’s begun. 

Keep on reading till it’s done. 

/^NE December evening Grandpa Grundy came 
in singing. 

“You all are happy, I believe. 

For Santa comes on Christma? Eve!” 

Toddles and Polly and Peterkin laughed as they 

pointed to their stockings hanging in a row, and one 

and all, they cried, “Tell us a story. Grandpa!” 

Grandpa Grundy took a chair by the fire, lowered 

his horn-rimmed spectacles and said: 

“Three little stockings hang there because 
It is almost time for Santa Claus!” 

To the surprise of all, Sammy — who was called 
“Toddles” for short — piped up: 

“Tell us a story, we’ll have a good time. 

Tell it in song and tell it in rhyme.” 


5 


6 


GRANDPA GRUNDY’S 


He climbed up in Grandpa’s lap and Polly took a 
seat on a stool and Peterkin came carrying Fluff, 
his kitten. 

Grandpa Grundy began, “Once upon a time there 
were Three Little Kittens — ’’ 

“Who lost their mittens,” shouted the children in 
one breath. 

Grandpa Grundy looked at them over his horn- 
rimmed spectacles and said: 

“Who is telling this tale, I wonder? 

If I get cross, I growl like thunder! ” 

After that, it was so still you could hear a pin 
drop. 

Grandpa Grundy began all over again: “Once 

upon a time there were Three Little Kittens named 
Fluff, Ruff, and Whiskers. Fluff had a wondrful 
fluffy tail, Ruff had a wonderful ruff round her 
neck, and Whiskers had remarkably long whiskers.” 

“Fluff did not like to go to bed. 

He’d cry and scream, so I’ve heard said.” 

(At this very minute. Toddles began to move 
uneasily in Grandpa Grundy’s lap.) 

Grandpa Grundy continued: 

“Ruff did not like to take a scrub. 

He cried when put inside a tub.’* 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 


7 


(At this very minute Polly hid her face in her 
pocket handkerchief.) Grandpa Grundy con- 
tinued : 

“Whiskers left his things about, 

He lost them, too, without a doubt.” 

(At this very minute Peterkin looked amused 
and picked up his pencil from the floor.) 

Grandpa Grundy went on in real earnest: “One 
Christmas Eve a hundred years ago, Fluff, Ruff and 
Whiskers hung up their stockings, hoping Santa 
Claus would fill them full from top to toe. Their 
mother called: 

“Time for bed and for the tub. 

Pick up your things, rub and scrub!” 

Now, will you believe it, those silly little Kit- 
tens cried so hard that the Old Sand Man heard 
them? 

Then Old Santa Claus heard 
And said, “It’s absurd.” 

The Sand Man was a great friend of Santa Claus, 
so he caught Fluff by the collar and caught Ruff by 
the tail and said: 

“I really think as like as not. 

We’d better boil you in the pot.” 


8 


GRANDPA GRUNDY’S 


(At this very minute in the telling of the story, 
Toddies, Polly and Peterkin looked at the black pot 
hanging over their fire, and their eyes grew as big 
as saucers.) 

Santa Claus looked at the naughty Little Kittens, 
saying : 

“You Kittens act like little Witches,” 

I’ll fill your stockings full of switches.” 

He did so, and Fluff and Ruff and Whiskers were 
so scared — 

They ran out of the house and away 

And were not heard from for a year and a day. 

As Grandpa Grundy paused for breath, the first 
surprising thing happened! 

Toddles got down from his lap, kissed him good 
night, and pretended he was a Fairy singing, as he 
went hoppety-skip upstairs. 

“I’ll make you like to go to bed,’* 

The jolly Bed Time Fairy said. 

Then the second surprising thing happened! 

P oily kissed Grandpa Grundy good night and 
went upstairs, and soon you could hear her dash- 
ing, and splashing, and singing: 

“How I like to rub and scrub. 

And meet the fairy in the tub.** 



The Sandman Saw the Foot of Santa Claus Sticking Down the 

Chimney. 


9 



10 


GRANDPA GRUNDY’S 


Then the third surprising thing happened! 

Peterkin began to hurry and scurry around. He 
put his kitten in his basket, and picked up his rub- 
bers, and book, and drum. He sang merrily as he 
went to bed: 

“I like to pick up things, you see. 

Sir Pick-It-Up is the name for me.” 

Soon Toddles and Polly and Peterkin were curled 
up in bed and Grandpa Grundy sang: 

“Good night, sleep tight. 

Sings Old Grandpa Grundy, 

Good night, sleep tight. 

Wake up bright on Monday.” 

Far away sounded the tinkle, tinkle, tinkle of 
sleigh bells. They came nearer and nearer. 

The Sandman, who stepped inside, put his hand 
up to his ear to listen. He had heard the songs the 
children sang, and he greeted Old Santa Claus, as 
he saw one of his furry old boots sticking down the 
chimney. The Sandman sang: 

“Th ese children LIKE to go to bed. 

They LIKE to bathe. I’ve heard it said. 

And patter, patter, with fairy sound. 

They pick up things they’ve left around.” 

Santa Claus came down the chimney. 

He laughed with a ho! ho! ho! 


MERRY CHRISTMAS 


11 


He saw three stockings in a row. 

Little Toddles had printed his real name, “Sam- 
my,” on a card, and put on his stocking. He was 
so afraid Santa Claus would forget him. 

Santa Claus clapped his hands and smiled at the 
Sandman and sang: 

"I always love good girls and boys, 

1 leave for them the finest toys.” 

He stuffed their stockings full from top to toe. 

He put a Bedtime Story Book in Toddles’ stock- 
ing, a Ccike of sweet-scented soap in Polly’s 
stocking. 

Santa Claus put a whistle in Peterkin’s stock- 
ing, with letters carved on it, “Sir Pick-It-Up.” He 
stuffed an apple in the toe of each stocking and left 
some toys on the floor. Then he went up the 
chimney with a merry ho-ho! and at sunrise the 
Sandman vanished. 

Next morning Grandpa Grundy called: 

“Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, 

Stockings in a row. 

Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas, 

Santa comes, you know.” 

Toddles and Polly and Peterkin jumped out of 
bed and ran to their stockings and had a merry time. 


A Jolly July Picnic Party 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

\ 

Here is an invitation hearty. 

To a Jolly July Picnic Party, 

And Fairy Thrift, we understand. 

Lives just this side of Fairyland, 

So when you come home tired at night 
Sing, "Good night, sleep tight.” 

nr^ODDLES and Polly and Peterkin sat very still 
* by the fire one evening. They were watch- 
ing the hands of the Family Clock. 

Did you ever notice how slowly the hands of a 
clock go when you stop to watch it? 

The Family Clock sang a song. 

Toddles said, “I think the clock sings this song:” 

"Toddles never likes to wait. 

Though Grandpa Grundy is very late." 

Polly said, “The clock sings another song to me:” 

"Someone’s already at the gate. 

Though Grandpa Grundy is very late." 

Peterkin said, “I hear the clock singing, too:” 

We 11 have a story at any rate. 

Though Grandpa Grundy is very late.” 


14 



Den I wish I was in Dixie, 

Hooray! Hooray! 

In Dixie Land, I’ll took my stand 
To lib and die in Dixie, 

Away, Away, Away, down South in 
Dixie, 

Away, Away, Away, down South in 
Dixie. 


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PICNIC PARTY 


15 


The Family Clock ticked away merrily singing: 

“I thought I heard Grandpa Grundy knock, 

Tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tock.” 

Sure enough, Grandpa Grundy was knocking at 
the door and the children had made so much noise 
they did not hear him come. 

They all ran to open the door and brush the 
snow off his coat and whiskers, and Grandpa 
Grundy sat down in his old camp chair by the fire, 
while the children crowded about him and asked, 
“Are you going to tell us about a Snow Man or a 
Sleighing Party?” 

Grandpa Grundy shook his head, saying: 

“For warmer days I always sigh, 

What about a picnic in July?” 

Then those funny children went and got out flags 
and Grandpa Grundy said the red, white and blue 
made him think more than ever of the Fourth of 
July, but he really wanted to tell about a picnic. 

He took a little story book out of his right hand 
coat pocket and began to read, “A Jolly July Pic- 
nic Party.” 

One July day Toddles, Polly and Peterkin said: 

“A picnic on a holiday 
Is the nicest kind of play.** 


16 


A JOLLY JULY 


“We’ll have picnic baskets,” said Toddles. 

“We ll have cake and sandwiches, ” said Polly. 

“We’ 11 have lemonade,” said Peterkin. 

So, they went with a hop, and a skip, and a 
bound to get their picnic baskets. 

“Rap-a-tap, ” sounded on the window, and the 
cutest little Fairy stood outside. 

The children ran to open the window and the 
Fairy said: 

“1 am Fairy Thrift, how can you ask it? 

It is expensive to fill a basket.” 

The children were surprised, you may be sure, 
for they had never before thought of the cost of 
filling a picnic basket. Then Fairy Thrift said: 

“You are thoughtful, I suppose. 

For I see you wear your oldest clothes.” 

Sure enough, the children had put on old clothes 
for the picnic. 

Fairy Thrift continued: 

“When children waste their bread and butter 
It always sets my heart a-flutter.” 

Then Fairy Thrift waved her wand and gave 
Sugar a voice, and Lemons a voice and Bananas a 


voice. 


PICNIC PARTY 


17 


She sang merrily: 

“Children, you may have your choice, 

I gave everything a voice." 

Toddles and Polly and Peterkin laughed as the 
Fairy sat cross-legged on the window sill. 

Toddles said, “We can take some Bread for our 
picnic baskets.” 

To her surprise, Bread sang out: 

“I’ve gone to seventeen cents, ’tis said. 

Expensive for a loaf of bread.” 

Then Polly said, “A very little bread and butter 
will do.” 

To the surprise of all, Butter cried: 

“It would set you all a-flutter 
If I mentioned the price of butter. 

Then Peterkin said, “We could have a jar of 
lemonade, 1 am sure.” 

The Lemons piped up: 

“A lemon is costly as can be. 

You’ll have to pay five cents for me.’ 

Sugar could hardly wait for her turn to speak. 
She said in her sweet voice: 

“Children, if 1 go any higher 
In price — you will expire.” 


18 


A JOLLY JULY 


The children laughed merrily and clapped their 
hands, and then they sat down and tried to think 
what they could put in their picnic baskets. 

Peterkin suddenly cried, “Bananas,” but Bananas 
found a voice and said: 

“To High Cost I am a cousin, 

We’ve gone to forty cents a dozen. 

“Apples,** ventured Toddles, but Apples grew 
red in the face and said: 

“Apples are costly I’ll be bound, 

We are really fifteen cents a pound. ” 

Just as the children thought they would have 
to give up the picnic, because everything cost so 
much, Fairy Thrift sang: 

“Says Fairy Thrift, in mended gown, 

Watermelons have come to town. ” 

The children looked out the window. 

There came Grandpa Grundy with a wheelbar- 
row full of watermelons! 

The children were happy, you may be sure, and 
ran out to meet him, while Grandpa Grundy said: 

“On an old log by the garden fence. 

You may eat watermelons at my expense.’’ 

Toddles and Polly and Peterkin rolled a water- 



The Fairy Sat Cross-Legged on the Window-Sill. 


19 


20 


A JOLLY JULY 


melon off the wheelbarrow and took turns rolling 
it over to the garden fence. 

Toddles and Peterkin sat on the log and Polly 
sat on the grass. 

As they cut the watermelon with a knife, Fairy 
Thrift vanished, calling: 

“I’ll have to say good-bye, indeed, 

1 hope you’ll think to save the seeds.” 

The children said, “We can make beautiful chains 
of the seeds.” 

The Hollyhock Ladies peeped over the fence and 
sang: 

“We’re Hollyhocks so tall and stately. 

Silent, too, but very lately. 

Red and yellow swing to and fro. 

It is time for Hollyhocks to grow.” 

At this very minute, a pair of brown eyes looked 
over the fence and a little wee voice cried: 

“I love watermelon, my! oh, my! 

I am Kinky Curls, do you hear me sigh?” 

The children looked up and cried: 

“Come over, we have a slice to spare, 

Things taste much better when we can share.” 

Kinky Curls climbed the fence and came over. 


PICNIC PARTY 


21 


and they all ate watermelon; then they danced and 
played games, and Old Aunt Rachel cried: 

"Come over the fence, boys and girls, 

Come over the fence with Kinky Curls.** 

Polly laughed at that, for she was the only girl in 
the party, but they all climbed over the fence and 
went to Old Aunt Rachel’s house. To their sur- 
prise, they found a table neatly set for four chil- 
dren and Aunt Rachel gave each one a plate of 
cakes and honey. 

When they had finished this wonderful picnic 
surprise, Polly slipped down and took off the dishes, 
and washed and wiped them neatly. 

Peterkin ran out and filled Aunt Rachel’s wood- 
box and Toddles and Kinky Curls got her a pail 
of water. Then they all sat down as Fairy Thrift 
peeped in at the window, singing: 

“Sleepy time, sleepy time, 

Sleepy time in every clime.’* 

Polly’s head began to go nid-nid-nodding. 

Peterkin hugged Toddles closer and Kinky Curls 
fell fast asleep while even Old Aunt Rachel nodded. 


22 


A JOIXY JULY 


Fairy Thrift called: 

“Come jolly little loaf of Bread, 

You must have heard what we have said, 

Come Butter, we need your presence here, 

For the Fourth comes but once a year. 

Come little jar of Lemonade, 

We need no longer be afraid. 

Sugar, lend us a tablespoon. 

We will need your sweetness soon. 

Bananas and Apples, you’re very good. 

Help fill the basket as you should. ’’ 

Fairy Thrift danced this way and that way. 

The old carving knife sliced the bread and spread 
the butter. The lemons squeezed each other, the 
sugar danced into the lemonade, and the bananas 
and apples sat side by side. 

When Polly and Toddles and Peterkin woke up. 
Kinky Curls and Aunt Rachel were still asleep, 
80 they crept out quietly and went pitter-patter 
homeward. 

After them came Fairy Thrift with the wonder- 
ful picnic basket on her arm. She sang: 

“The reason I love you, I suppose. 

Is because you’re happy to wear old clothes.” 

The children took the basket and ran in to tell 
Grandpa Grundy about their Jolly Picnic Party. 

They could not find him, but the Family Clock 


PICNIC PARTY 


23 


struck eight, so they set the basket down on the 
table and went happily to bed, and a fairy voice 
called: 


“Sleep and dream, sleep and dreeim. 

Merry maids and men. 

Sleep and dream, sleep and dream. 

Tomorrow comes again.” 

All night long the children dreamed of another 
Jolly July Picnic Party, for they dreamed of the 
basket full of good things on the table. 

Fairy Thrift sang: 

“Aunt Rachel saved the things you know. 

That into the picnic basket go. 

So it was jolly as well as fair, 

That the watermelon you liked to share.” 


The Queen of May 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

The Queen of May, the Queen of May, 

WeTl crown upon a holiday, 

When you can read this book at all. 

You will meet Fairy See-It-All, 

And Fairy Laughter, who likes to play. 

With the Little Queen of May! 

I^T EXT evening when Grandpa Grundy came in 
^ ™ and sat down in his red rocking chair by the 
fire, the children said, “What kind of a story will 
you tell us tonight. Grandpa? 

Before he could answer. Toddles said, “Grand- 
pa, why don’t you sometimes tell us a Good Morn- 
ing Story?” 

Polly said, “Why don’t you tell us a real true 
story?” 

Peterkin said, “Why don’t you tell us a Fairy 
Tale?” 

Grandpa Grundy said: 

So many questions all in a row. 

To answer which one I do not know.” 


24 


THE QUEEN OF MAY 


25 


Then he looked into the fire and said; 

"Shall I tell about Merry Christmas trees, 

Or picnic parties for which you tease?" 

The Family Clock ticked loudly at that, singing. 

"Tick, tock, tick, tock. 

He forgot his story like as not." 

The bellows laughed until their sides stuck out, 
but the Little Old Man in the Fire crackled cheer- 
fully: 


"Grandpa Grundy, 1 heard you say. 

You knew something about the first of May." 

Then, to the delight of all. Grandpa Grundy 
began : 


"Queen of the May, Queen of the May, 

Laugh to while the hours away. 

Round the May Pole dance and play, 

I 11 tell about the Queen of May.” 

Little Girl Discontent scolded one day: 

"If I have to wear my old white dress, 

I’ll be ill-tempered now, I guess.” 

She scolded again about her old dress and slip- 
pers and hair ribbon and sang: 

"If I have to dress this way, 

"I’ll never be the Queen of May." 


26 


THE QUEEN OF MAY 


Fairy See-It-All came out in the woods and sang 

“You always like to exchange your things. 
Exchange your scowl for a voice that sings.” 

The Little Girl exchanged her scowl instead for 
a real bit of temper, and stamped her foot and said: 

“How can 1 be May Queen, do you suppose? 

I always have to wear old clothes.” 

She was so cross Fairy See-It-All crept inside a 
hollow tree to hide, and the Little Girl grew tired 
of her temper and exchanged it for Little Behind- 
Hand, so it was quite late when she got to the place 
where the daisies grow. 

She said: 

“I could make a jolly rhyme. 

If I could learn to be ON TIME.** 

To her surprise all the daisies nodded at her and 
in an instant turned into tiny fairies with green 
dresses and white caps. They nodded and sang: 

“Little Behind Time follows after. 

Why don’t you exchange him for Laughter?’* 

Then Little Girl began to laugh, and in the 
twinkling of an eye her white dress turned to satin 
and her hair ribbon became a crown. Her little old 
shoes turned to silver and she sat on a throne among 


THE QUEEN OF MAY 


27 


the fairies. They called her their May Queen and 
sang: 

“Merrily our songs we waft her. 

She is a Fairy Queen called Laughter.” 

They danced and played in the woods that bright 
May day and the breezes sang: 

“Laughter has a smile so bright, 

Good night, sleep tight.” 

(At this very minute in the story telling, Toddles 
fell asleep.) 

Grandpa continued, ‘‘Then the birds sang: 

“We will bring your dreams so bright. 

Good night, sleep tight.” 

(At this very minute Polly began to nod.) 

Then the brook sang: 

“We dash o’er pebbles smooth and bright. 

Good night, sleep tight.” 

(Peterkin’s head began to nid-nid, nod.) 

Grandpa Grundy’s voice sank lower, and lower, 
almost to a whisper. 

The sunset Fairies sang: 

“You can see our colors bright, 

Good night, sleep tight.” 


28 


THE QUEEN OF MAY 


The Fairy Prince came with a wand and waked 
the little May Queen, singing: 

“To the daisy fields away, away, 

You’re Queen of the May, Queen of the May.” 

Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye. Little Girl 
woke. Her dress became plain again, her silver 
slippers became old shoes, her crown became a blue 
hair ribbon, but she had not lost her laughter. She 
said: 

“Ha, ha, I see the fun begin. 

The daisy tickled me under my chin.” 

All the Fairy daisies nodded to her and sang: 

“Ha, ha, for the little boy who caught her 
Smile again, you are Laughter’s daughter.’’ 

Then they danced and sang again: 

“Hay, ha, who will be Queen of May, 

The little girl who can smile alway.’’ 

Fairy See-lt-All peeped out of the hollow tree 
and sang: 

“From her little nose to her twinkling toes. 

She shall carry laughter wherever she goes.” 

The Little Boy sat down beside her and Little 
Girl told all about her Fairy dream. 



The Little Girl Stamped Her Foot, and the Fairy Crept Into a 

Hollow Tree to Hide. 


29 





30 


THE QUEEN OF MAY 


Little Boy’s head began to nid-nid, nod, and soon 
the Fairies whispered: 

“Alone in the woods, do you thing it right 
To sing, good night, sleep tight?” 

Once more Little Girl became May Queen and sat 
on a throne and Little Boy sat beside her. 

Little Girl said: 

“I’ll banish Sir Scowl for a year and a day. 

I’m Queen of the May, Queen of the May.” 

Then she continued: 

“I’ll banish Temper to a desert isle. 

I’ll not want him even once in a while.” 

Then she said: 

“Little Behind Hand, you’re always late. 

I’ll get on without you, at any rate.” 

Then she said: 


“Little Fairy Laughter, you may stay. 

I’m Queen of the May, Queen of the May.” 

Uncle Phil and Aunt Lilly came along at that 
very minute and said softly: 

“We’ll take her away, we’ll take her away. 

At last we’ve found the Queen of the May.” 



© K CO . INC.. 


COME WHERE MY LOVE 
LIES DREAMING 

Come where my love lies dreaming,, 
Dreaming the happy hours away, 

In visions bright redeeming 
The fleeting joys of day. 



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THE QUEEN OF MAY 


31 


Then they said: 

■‘Little Boy dreams with a smile so bright, 

Good night — sleep tight.” 

They carried the children home fast asleep : 

How it happened, I can’t tell, 

I think it was a fairy spell. 

Fairy See-lt-All sang: 

“Laughter has come to this house to stay. 

With the Queen of the May, the Queen of May.” 

“Tell it again,” said Toddles, half awake. 

“Tell it again,” said Polly, clapping her hands. 
Peterkin laugher merrily and said: 

“A wee little bed is what I’m after. 

Let’s run and catch the Fairy Laughter.” 

The children raced up to bed laughing merrily. 
Grandpa Grundy said : 

“They’re happy children, I do declare 
As I rock to and fro in my rocking chair. 

And tell these stories now you see, 

I become as sleepy as can be.” 

He fell asleep In two minutes, while Fairy See-It- 
All peeped in the window, humming softly: 

“Twinkle, twinkle stars so bright, 

Good night, sleep tight.” 


Little Dwarf Laughter 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

Little Dwarf Laughter, Little Dwarf Laughter, 
Has never a sigh or care. 

Little Dwarf Laughter, Little Dwarf Laughter, 
You are welcome everywhere. 

We love you well, but will you tell 
Why you were hiding in the well? 

'JpHE Family Clock sang out next evening: 


“Tick, tick, tock, sing a song 
’Twill held to speed the hours along.” 

The children said: “What song shall we sing?” 

They thought of all the songs they knew, then 
they decided to sing about Pussy in the Well. 

Just as they finished singing, Grandpa Grundy 
came in and said, excitedly: 

“Was it a Plush Cat in the well? 

Children, can we ever tell?” 

There sat the old Plush Cat by the fire, staring 
at them out of her little bead eyes, and she never as 
much as winked an eyelash! 


32 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


33 


Grandpa Grundy took a high-backed chair and 
said: 

“Nbw as every one supposes, 

1 must count your little noses.” 

The children said, “We are all here — where did 
you learn to count noses, grandpa?” 

Grandpa Grundy said: 

‘Til keep that a secret, if you please. 

And begin the story before you tease,” 

Then he began the story of Little Dwarf 
Laughter. 

The fifteen Little Dwarfs sat down in their fif- 
teen little chairs by the supper table and began to 
count noses. 

They always counted noses at meal time to see 
if they were all there. 

Dwarf Tell-Tale said: “Little Dwarf is lost! Little 
Dwarf is lost!” 

Sure enough, there was one empty chair at the 
table. 

The Little Dwarfs began to grumble and scold. 
They said their soup was too cold, and their water 
too warm. They spilled their food on the table 
and were so cross that Little Dwarf Smile was scared 
and hid under the table. 


34 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


He sang softly: 

“Little Dwarf Laughter, it appears, 

Was not lost before for years and years.” 

Then the Little Dwarfs went to work and made 
a sign. They printed in large letters upon it: 

“Dwarf Laughter lost. Dwarf Laughter lost. 

Come, get him back at any cost!” 

Grumbling and scolding, they nailed the sign on a 
tree. They said : 

“We’ll nail it on a tree 
Where all the passers by can see.” 

The Little Dwarfs looked upstairs and downstairs, 
grumbling and scolding, and saying, “What can 
have become of Little Dwarf Laughter? We must 
get him back. We cannot keep house without 
him.” 

There was one little empty bed and one little 
empty chair in the Little Dwarf House. They sang: 

“We’re mad Little Dwarfs, 

We’re bad Little Dwarfs, 

We are sad as sad can be. 

In a spell we’re bound. 

Till Dwarf Laughter is found. 

Oh my, oh my, oh me.” 

All this time, Polly and Peterkin had been help- 
ing on the farm, and that very evening they went 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


35 


for a walk through the woods. They came nearer 
and nearer the house of the Fifteen Little Dwarfs. 

They saw the twinkle, twinkle of their little lamp. 

They heard the mad little song, and Peterkin be- 
gan to laugh and Polly began to laugh. Soon the 
Little Dwarfs came tumbling out of the house, and 
they hugged and kissed the children, singing: 

“Dwarf Laughter is lost. Dwarf Laughter is lost. 

We must get him back at any cost.” 

Peterkin said: “I carry my laughing-box right 

inside.” 

Then Polly laughed until she cried. 

The Little Dwarfs took out their pocket hand- 
kerchiefs and wept loudly: 

“There is only one Dwarf worth searching after, 
Little Dwarf Laughter, Little Dwarf Laughter.” 

Polly and Peterkin promised to look for him on 
the farm next day, and the Little Dwarfs bade them 
good-bye, waving their fifteen little pocket hand- 
kerchiefs and crying: 

“Fifteen Little Dwarfs are we. 

Sad as sad, as sad can be.” 

Little Dwarf Tell-Tale shouted after them: 

“We really think searching will be no use. 

But he carried a book called Mother Goose.” 


36 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


Peterkin and Polly helped on the farm next day. 
Peterkin wore his overalls and straw hat. Pollj- 
wore her sunbonnet and apron. Peterkin helped hoe 
the garden and P oily took the men in the fields 
their dinner. 

Will you believe it, everything went wrong on 
the farm that day? 

The horses grew lame, the butter wouldn t come, 
and the cow kicked her milk bucket. Everyone 
grumbled and scolded all day. 

Peterkin got a sliver in his bare foot, and Polly 
lost her little gold ring. 

Suddenly they remembered about Little Dwarf 
Laughter. 

Peterkin said: “Perhaps he is lost in the barn,” 

and Polly said: “Perhaps he is hiding in the dinner 

pail.” 

They looked round and about but still Dwarf 
Laughter could not be found. 

Every time, however, when they went to the well 
for a bucket of water they heard a song: 

“Let me out, let me out, 

I am in here without a doubt.” 

Peterkin looked in the bucket and Polly looked 

down the well. At last Peterkin said: 

“Maybe Dwarf Laughter is in the well. 

We never can tell, we never can tell.” 



He Tipped the Bucket Over and Ran to the Woods. 


37 



38 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


Then Polly clapped her hands and said: “Little 

Dwarf Tell-Tale went off with a copy of ‘Mother 
Goose.’ Maybe he is looking for ‘Pussy in the 
Well.’ ’’ 

Again they heard the song: 

“Let me out, let me out, 

I am in here without a doubt.” 

Peterkin said: “I will lower the bucket very slowly 
and you can pull it up very slowly, and we will 
sing a Fairy Song to break the spell. They sang: 

“Fairy Laughter, Fairy Laughter, 

You’re the Dwarf that we are after. 

Fairy Laughter, please come out. 

We need you without any doubt. ’’ 

They heard a great dashing and splashing in the 
bucket. They heard the kicking of little feet. 

Very carefully, they drew up the bucket, and 
there in it, dashing and splashing, sat Little Dwarf 
Laughter. 

He jumped out with a merry “Ha, ha.’’ He had 
a Plush Pussy Cat in his arms. He sang: 

“Ha, ha, here’s my Pussy Cat, 

Alive as ever, sleek and fat.” 

The children laughed as Little Dwarf Laughter 
sang: 

“With Little Dwarf Laughter dance and sing. 

And just be glad of everything.” 



THE OLD OAKEN BUCKET 

How dear to tKis heart are the scenes 
of my childhood, 

When fond recollection presents them 
to view ! 

The orchard, the meadow, the deep 
tanked wild-wood. 

And every loved spot which my 
infancy knew. 



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LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


30 


Then he tipped the bucket over and ran to the 
woods. 

Polly and Peterkin followed him. 

They saw the fifteen Little Dwarfs hug him and 
kiss him, and 

“As for the Old Plush Cat, 

For hours and hours by the fire he sat.*’ 

All the Dwarfs sang: 

“H ome again, home again, 

We hope you’ll never roam again. 

Little Dwarf Laughter, it appears. 

We’ve shed for you real honest tears. 

Next day, everything went right on the farm. 

Little Dwarf Laughter capered about, here, there 
and everywhere. The horses plowed the fields. The 
butter came. The cow stood still to be milked and 
everyone laughed and whistled and sang. Peter- 
kin’s lame foot got well and Polly found her gold 
ring under her pillow. 

Peterkin and Polly laughed many times. 

“They thought how the Dwarf in the bucket sat 
Merrily hugging his Old Plush Cat.” 

If you could look in the homes of the Little 
Dwarfs this very minute you might hear the cat 
sing: 

“I’m not very old or very fat. 

But I’m useful as a Pin Cushion Cat.” 


40 


LITTLE DWARF LAUGHTER 


Sure enough, the Plush Cat was filled with pins, 
so he was very useful to the Dwarfs. The Dwarfs 
sang merrily: 

“We’re dear Little Dwarfs, 

We’re queer Little Dwarfs, 

We dance o’er the leafy mound, 

Our tale is spoken. 

The spell is broken, 

^ And Little Dwarf Laughter is found.’’ 

Grandpa Grundy grew so sleepy when he was 
telling this story that he forgot some things and he 
mentioned the Cat as a Plush Cat, or a Calico Cat, 
or a Pin Cushion Cat. Then he said in a sing-song 
kind of way: 

“Good night, sleep tight. 

What Pussy was in the well? 

Good night, sleep tight. 

How can Grandpa Grundy tell? 

Now part of this story is certainly true. 

For I’ve often met Dwarf Laughter, have you?’’ 


Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear, 
You can be happy anywhere. 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear, 

I’m glad to meet you, I declare. 

evening Grandpa Grundy said: 


“111 tell a story of pumpkins three. 

Just as Rags told it to me.” 

Then he started out again in his story-telling 
and said: 

“I’ll tell a story of pumpkins three. 

Just as Tags told it to me. 

Then he made a fresh start, saying, “Where was 
1 in the story? Oh, yes, 1 remember: 

“I’ll tell a story of pumpkins three. 

Just as Bob-Tail told it to me.’’ 

By this time his jolly little audience all laughed 
and cried out, “Grandpa Grundy, do tell us the 
story of Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail.” 


41 


42 


RAGS. TAGS 


Grandpa Grundy said: 

“What do you suppose? What do you suppose? 
Rags got his nickname because of his clothes. 

Then he went on to say that Tags got his nick- 
name because he always wanted to tag the other 
boys, and Bob-Tail always came into a game the 
last minute. He was always a little behind. 

“I was going to tell about pumpkins,” said 
Grandpa Grundy. “In fact I was going to tell 
you about Old Mother Bear,” continued the forget- 
ful old fellow. Then he began the story in real 
earnest. 

“One November evening Old Mother Bear sat 
knitting. 

“Her needles made a clicking sound, 

She was busy all the year around.” 

Old Mother Bear made mittens for sale and she 
had pennies and dimes and quarters in her little tin 
bank, and all the animals knew of her saving habit. 

Tonight she sat knitting and rocking and singing: 

“Pumpkins for pies and Jack o’ Lanterns, too. 

I’ll buy with my pennies so bright and new.” 

At this very minute she heard the patter, patter. 


AND BOB-TAIL 


43 


patter of little feet coming up the walk, and in 
popped Old Mother Field Mouse, sighing: 

“Will you lend me a penny, a quarter, a dime? 

I am very hard up most all of the time.” 

Old Mother Bear looked over her spectacles. 
Sure enough. Old Mother Field Mouse had grown 
old and gray, and she had never so much as saved a 
penny in her whole life. 

So Old Mother Bear shook her little tin bank and 
out rolled two pennies and a dime, but the quarter 
stuck hard and fast. 

It was one hour and thirty-two minutes before 
the quarter would come out of the bank. Off went 
Old Mother Field Mouse singing: 

“You are kind-hearted, I do declare, 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear.” 

“Click, click, click,” went the needles knitting 
and purling when “tap, tap, tap,” went Brother 
Long-Tail’s cane. He was a very old Squirrel and 
he came limpety-limp along. 

Old Mother Bear offered him a cup of tea and a 
seat by her fire. He came straight to the point 
saying: 

“I want to borrow a dollar or two, 

I am too old to earn money like you.** 


44 


RAGS. TAGS 


Old Mother Bear patiently shook her old bank. 
Out rolled two shining silver dollars. Brother 
Long-Tail forgot how lame he was, and taking the 
money, danced down the walk, saying: 

“You are kind-hearted, I do declare. 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear.” 

Next came the hop-skip of Little Tiny-Tail’ s feet. 

This little Rabbit said she had such a large family 
she could hardly keep them in shoes, and she took 
out her blue pocket handkerchief and shed real 
tears as she told how poor she was. 

Old Mother Bear shook the bank, and out came 
fifty-cent' pieces until she had before her a wonder- 
ful pile of money. 

Little Tiny-Tail tied them up solemnly in her 
blue pocket handkerchief and went off saying: 

“You are kind-hearted, I do declare. 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear.” 

Old Mother Bear sighed this time as she took up 
her knitting. It had grown so dark she lighted a 
lamp and who should come by but Brother Long- 
Stripes, the Chipmunk, sighing: 

“Winter is coming, I’ve no food in store. 

If I had a dollar I’d buy me some more.” 



One November Evening Old Mother Bear Sat Knitting. 


4 =; 








46 


RAGS. TAGS 


Old Mother Bear had to rap and tap her old tin 
bank to see if she could squeeze out another dollar. 
Sure enough, out rolled the shining silver dollar. 

Brother Long-Stripes made a beautiful bow and 
went off saying: 

“You are kind-hearted, I do declare, 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother Bear.” 

Then, who should come creeping and stealing 
along but Sly-Boy, the Fox, sighing: 

Winter is coming; what then, what then? 

I have no warm rug to lay in my den.” 

He took a chair by Old Mother Bear’s fireside and 
talked about the cold, cold winter coming. 

He wiped real tears from his eyes as he told of 
a rug he wanted to buy at the store costing six dol- 
lars and nineteen cents. 

Old Mother Bear shook her little tin bank once 
more. Out rolled one, two, three, four, five, six 
dollars and nineteen pennies. She shook once more. 

THE BANK WAS EMPTY! 

Sly-Boy pocketed the money greedily, and went 
off saying: 

“You are kind-hearted, I do declare. 

Old Mother Bear, Old Mother B ear.” 



<s> K CO.. INC.. 


WHEN THE SWALLOWS 
HOMEWARD FLY 

Then I ask, in doubt and pain, 
Shall we ever meet a^ain? 
Parting, ah, parting. 

Parting is pain. 



AND BOB-TAIL 


47 


Now, Old Mother Bear shook the empty bank 
sadly, saying: 

"Alas! alas! alack-a-day, 

No pumpkin pies for me, anyway, 

Alas! alas! alack-a-day, 

No Jack o’ Lantern shall come my way.” 

She began to knit again, and her needles went 
“click, click, click,” and she sang her song over and 
over. 

Now, I don’t know what in the world would have 
happened if Brother Tu-Who, the Owl, had not been 
in the tree outside all the time. He saw every- 
thing that had gone on as he looked out of his 
great round shining eyes, and he flew away to tell 
the news. 

"Old Mother Bear’ll have no Thanksgiving Day 
For all of her money she’s given away!" 

He went on to tell how thoughtless the animals 
were to borrow every cent of her money. 

Four Wild Ducks flying by heard him and said: 

"We’ll carry the news, we’ll carry the news, 

We’ll spread it as far and wide as we choose.” 

First they told Old Mother Field Mouse, and she 
said: 

"It makes me really wipe my eyes, 

To think of Thanksgiving without any pies! ’ 


48 


RAGS. TAGS 


When Brother Long-Tail heard the news he said: 

“With my little present I will me there, 

I’ll not forget Old Mother Bear.” 

Then they told Little Tiny-Tail and she said: 

“On Thanksgiving Day it may seem funny, 

But I’ll return that borrowed money.” 

f 

Then they carried the news to Brother Long- 
Stripes and he hopped about saying: 

“I may not be very old or wise. 

But I know how to make good pumpkin pies.” 

Then they told Sly-Boy and he would not tell 
what he thought about the matter, but he sawed 
wood from that day and he sawed wood, and sawed 
wood. 

The Wild Geese flew right along and told Farmer 
Jones’ Boys, Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail. 

The three boys could hardly wait to gather some 
pumpkins and run to the home of Old Mother 
Bear. They ran so fast that they tripped, and fell 
and picked themselves up again, saying: 

“Pumpkins large, and pumpkins small, 

Old Mother Bear shall have them all.” 

When they got to Old Mother Bear’s home, there 
she sat, nid-nid-nodding in her rocking chair. 


AND BOB-TAIL 


49 


Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail set their pumpkins on 
the doorstep. 

They ran back to the field and got three other 
pumpkins and made Jack O’ Lanterns of them and 
put lighted candles inside. 

They set them on the window sill and crept round 
the house to see what would happen. 

Brother Tu-\Vho sat in a tree and shouted: 

"Something for you, something for you. 

Tu-whit, tu-who, tuwhit, tu-who." 

Next came the Wild Geese crying: 

“Wonderful news, wonderful news. 

You can have presents if you choose.” 

All the time Old Mother Bear sat nid-nid nodding 
in her rocking chair. 

Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail peeped in the window. 

Then Mother Field Mouse came tripping along 
with a neatly covered basket of pumpkin pies. She 
opened the door softly, just a tiny crack, then a little 
more, and a little more, and crept in, setting her pies 
on the table. She waited outside to see what would 
happen next. 

Brother Long-Tail came along in a hurry with a 
well roasted turkey, on a platter, and he crept in 
softly and set it on the table. Then he waited to 
see what would happen. 


50 


RAGS. TAGS 


Little Tiny-Tail came along with a great, big tin 
bank, forty-two times the size of the old one, and 
all the animals came and dropped in dollars and dol- 
lars until all their debts were paid. Tiny-Tail waited 
to see what would happen. 

Then Brother Long-Stripes came and brought 
more pies and Sly Boy brought fourteen wheel- 
barrows full of sawed wood and he filled up the 
wood shed for Old Mother Bear. 

At this very minute she woke up and cried: 

“I am Old Mother Bear, 1 have a surprise 
I see pumpkin pies of every size.” 

Pumpkins rolled in the door. 

Jack O’ Lanterns stared in the window. 

There was a feast ready on the table. 

Old Mother Bear invited all the animals to stay 
and they had a merry Thanksgiving dinner. 

Old Mother Bear saw her wonderful bank full of 
money, and her shed full of wood and said: 

“Thank you, thank you, I must say. 

For a very happy Thanksgiving Day!” 


Then one of those comical animals whispered to 


AND BOB-TAIL 


51 


another and they kept on whispering until finally 
Sly Boy hemmed and hawed, and said: 

“We are honest today and honest tomorrow, 

You see we return every cent we borrow.” 

Old Mother Bear was so surprised she rubbed her 
spectacles to see if she had heard clearly, and she 
held up her ear trumpet to see if she could see any 
more clearly, and she shook the bank full of money 
and still thought she must be dreaming. 

Rags, Tags and Bob-Tail danced about and said 
they had never had so much fun before in all their 
lives, and 

“Each Jolly Jack o* Lantern with shining eyes 
Said, ‘Ha, ha, ho, ho, who had a surprise?’ 

Old Mother Bear went about hugging every one 
in turn, singing: 

“I have good friends, I do declare. 

You may call me a Thanksgiving Bear!” 

At that they clapped their paws, and Rags, Tags 
and Bob-Tail went home, laughing all the way. 


In Apple Blossom Town 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

In Apple Blossom Town, 

There is fun for one and all. 

In Apple Blossom Town, 

Sweet Fairy voices call. 

In Apple Blossom Town, 

In Apple Blossom Town, 

Merry May has come to stay. 

In Apple Blossom Town. 

upon a time when Polly and Toddles 
had measles, they were thin and pale,” be- 
gan Grandpa Grundy. 

“It was not measles,” said Polly, “it was mumps.” 

Grandpa Grundy looked surprised, and said: 

“My hair and whiskers, what did you say? 

I think you scared the story away.” 

Then he began all over again — 

“Once in Apple Blossom time — ” 

“Wasn’t it cherry time?” asked Peterkin. 
Grandpa Grundy looked over and under his spec- 
tacles and said: 

“I cannot remember, it appears. 

I’ll have to think back one hundred years.” 


52 



53 





54 


IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


He waited so long the children thought he had 
really forgotten the story. 

They listened to the Family Clock, 

Who said severely, “tick, tock.“ 

Peterkin said, after ten minutes had passed: 

“We don’t mean to be abrupt. 

We are very sorry to interrupt.” 

Then Grandpa Grundy laughed until his sides 
shook, and began good-naturedly, quite as though 
nothing had happened. 

“One day when Polly and Toddles went for a 

visit in the country they heard a merry song: 

Apple Blossom Town by the cherry tree. 

Is pleasant as a place can be. 

There is room for children just your size 
And Little Fairy Exercise, 

Fairy Fresh Air will meet you there. 

She is here, and there, and everywhere. 

The Barefoot children are in town. 

Their cheeks are rosy, their feet are brown. 

Fairy Sunshine, if you please, 

Peeps beneath the leafy trees. 

The wind blows east, the wind blows west. 

Peep into the new-made robin’s nest. 

“Come on. Toddles,” called Polly, “Let us go 

to Apple Blossom Town.” 

They started off barefooted, with a hop, and a 

skip and a bound. 



(g) K CO . INC, 


WHEN THE ROBINS NEST AGAIN 

My bonnie blue eyed lad, 

If my heart is true till then, 

Has promised he’ll return to me. 
When the Robins nest a^ain. 



IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


55 


Toddles said, “I hear Fairy voices, I hear a Fairy 
song. Sure enough. Fairy Tickle-Grass was 
singing : 

“I like to see Barefoot Children pass, 

1 am Fairy Tickle-Grass, 

You’ll get used to me, but goodness knows 
I like to tickle your little toes.” 

The children laughed at Fairy Tickle-Grass and 
said, “Now we know why the long grass tickles our 
bare feet so, it is because Fairy Tickle-Grass is 
after us.” 

They went to the prettiest apple tree in the or- 
chard. It was full of bloom. The Apple Blossoms 
waved above them. Toddles said, Perhaps this is 
Apple Blossom Town.” 

At this very minute the Apple Blossom Fairy 
called : 


A secret is worth Fairy gold. 

Kept to yourself it is never told.” 

Then they knew they were in Apple Blossom 
Town, for all Fairies like to tease. 

“How shall we get up into the town?” asked 

Toddles. 


56 


IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


Fairy Apple Blossom answered again in her sweet 
voice: 

“If you want to be strong, the road’s not long, 
Just follow me in story and song, 

The Apple Blossom Fairy is wise. 

I’ll call Little Fairy Exercise.” 

Then Fairy Exercise appeared. 

He was a jolly little fellow. He joined hands 
with the children and they danced a ring-around-a- 
rosy, round the Apple Tree, then whisk, bound, he 
helped the children climb the tree, and there they 
were safe and sound in Apple Blossom Town. 

Then what should they see, cute as could be. 

But a robin’s nest with blue eggs, three?’’ 

Fairy Apple Blossom said: 

“I’ll dress my little birds red and brown. 

My robins in Apple Blossom Town.” 

Toddles said, “We will only peep in the nest, and 
then put it safely back in the tree.” 

Polly said, “We will not take out even one of 
the blue eggs for the mother Robin would miss it.” 

They put the nest safely back in the tree and 
Fairy Apple Blossom was so pleased, she tinted 
the children’s cheeks pink, she changed Polly’s lit- 
tle white dress to pink, and she called Fairy Fresh 
Air to kiss them both. 


IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


57 


“Fairy Fresh Air in invisible dress 
Is a jolly companion as you guess.’* 

Fairy Apple Blossom sang: 

“When far away in the leafy wood. 

Blow your trumpet for Fairy Fresh Food.” 

Toddles felt for his little tin whistle. He took it 
from his pocket and blew loud and long. 

“Down fell two apples rosy and sweet, 

Ripe and juicy and good to eat.” 

By and by, when Toddles and Polly grew sleepy, 
Fairy Apple Blossom sang: 

“Fairy Pure Water, Fairy Pure Water, 

You are Good Health’s lovely daughter.” 

The children came down from the tree and fol- 
lowed Fairy Pure Water to a spring. They knelt 
down and had a fine drink. Then they followed the 
Fairy to a stream and waded in it. 

Overhead, mother robin sang: 

“Thank you, for saving blue eggs three. 

In my nest in the Apple Tree.” 

The children laughed and said, ‘‘We never knew 
before that the robins cared. Then Fairy Pure 
Water sang: 

“You must rub and scrub. I’ve heard it said. 
Barefoot children who go to bed.” 


58 


IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


The Pure Water Fairy was in such a hurry, they 
had to run to keep up with her. She led them to 
their own bath tub and turned on the water faucet, 
singing merrily: 

“I’ll leave you with Fairy Rub and Scrub, 

She’s the jolly Fairy in the tub.’’ 

The children laughed merrily as Fairy Rub and 
Scrub called: 

“If you don’t rub under each ear, 

You’ll leave a streak of dirt, I fear.” 

Then she sang: 

“Why don’t you scrub between your toes? 
Tickle-Grass stained you, goodness knows.” 

They had a jolly time with Fairy Rub and Scrub, 
and when mother called, 

“Bedtime, put out the light. 

Good night — sleep tight.” 

Toddles and Polly crept into their beds and said: 

“ ’Tis fun to journey up and down. 

We’ll go back to Apple Blossom Town.” 

At this very minute Sir Robin called: 

“Thank you for saving my little nest. 

Good night, I bring sweet dreams and rest.” 


IN APPLE BLOSSOM TOWN 


59 


Fairy Tickle Grass kept up a humming outside 
the window. 

“I am Tickle-Grass, I am Tickle-Grass, 

I’ll tickle the feet of all who pass.” 

Then the Apple Blossom Fairy sang: 

“Up and down, up and down. 

Flit Fairies in Apple Blossom Town, 

Cheeks grow rosy, toes grow brown, 

In Merry Apple Blossom Town, 

Then smile and laugh with never a frown, 

Wear an old suit and wear an old gown. 

You may act the part of a circus clown. 

And sing, ‘Hurrah, Apple Blossom Town.* ” 

The children dreamed of Fairies all night, and in 
the morning when they woke up, to their surprise 
they saw an Apple tree in bloom, right by their 
window. 

In the tree was a nest with birdies three. 

They looked up chirping merrily. 

The children laughed and said: 

“Let us dress and hurry down. 

And live in Apple Blossom Town.” 

The Apple Blossom Fairy was there to greet them 
and she sang: 

“Be happy, children, whatever you do. 

Good morning, good morning, good morning to you. 


A Red, White and Blue Story 

By Laura Rountree Smith 

“Red, White and Blue, our love to you. 

Every year we all renew. 

And passers by will hear us cry, 

‘Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July!’ ’’ 

qne July morning, Liberty Bell sang: 


“For the good old days I sigh. 

Hurrah, hurrah! for the Fourth of July!” 

Then the Statue of Liberty replied: 

“Here with my flaming torch held high, 

I call, ‘Hurrah! for the Fourth of July!’ 

Then an old, old flag took up the song and 
waved in the breeze, singing: 

‘‘Red, White and Blue, hear the old flag cry, 
‘Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July!’ “ 

Then a bright, new flag that had just come from 
the factory, asked: 

“There’s a stir and a bustle, please tell why. 

You say, ‘Hurrah! for the Fourth of July!’ ’’ 


60 



It Had a Great Tear in It! 


61 





62 


A RED, WHITE 


Then the drum beat and the firecrackers went 
off, and the cannon boomed and there was a great 
stir. 


Said Liberty Bell, “I’ll ring o’er creation. 

For it is the Birthday of our loved Nation. ’’ 

Then the Statue of Liberty and the Old Flag told 
all about the Fourth of July, and Old Father Time 
was so pleased as he sat in a chair by the chimney 
corner that he said: “We will write a letter to the 
children all over the world and tell them about the 
Fourth of July. We will ask them to help us cele- 
brate.” So Father Time wrote this letter: 

Dear Children: 

The Fourth of July is coming, so please get out your 
flags and drums and red, white and blue sashes, and help 
me celebrate. 

Are you sure you know the words of “The Star Span- 
gled Banner”? Are you sure you can sing the song? 

What do you know about the honors paid our flag? 
Who made the first flag? How many stars and stripes 
were in it? 

Please help me celebrate the Fourth of July. 

Yours truly, 

FATHER TIME. 

When the letter was finished, Father Time said, 
“How will I send my message to the children?” 

“I will carry your message to the children,” sang 
the breeze. 



© K CO., INC. 


WHEN JOHNNY COMES 
MARCHING HOME 

The men will cheer, the boys will 
shout, 

The ladies, they will all turn out. 
Crowds will father all about. 

When Johnny comes marching home. 





AND BLUE STORY 


63 


“We will carry your message,” sang the birds. 

“I will carry your message everywhere,” sang 
the calendar, “I will mark the Fourth of July with a 
red figure, so no one will forget to celebrate the 
day.” 

“I will boom,” said the cannon. “I will make all 
the noise I can,” said the firecrackers. “I will beat,” 
said the drum in the band. “Let me ring again,” 
cried Liberty Bell — “let me carry your message.” 

“Let me pass the word along,” said the Old Flag. 

Soon all the flags were crying as they streamed in 
the air, “Hurrah! Hurrah! for the Fourth of July!” 

The children said, “We love our country. We 
love our flag. We love the Fourth of July!” 

As Grandpa Grundy was telling his story, “Rap- 
a-tap,” was heard on the door, and in came their 
neighbors. Jack and the twins, so Peterkin and Polly 
and Toddles cried, “Tell it again. Grandpa! Tell 
it again!” 

Grandpa Grundy handed all the children flags 
and said: 

“Hurrah for the flags, wave them high, 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July!” 

Jack and the twins said: 

“Every week if we come on Monday, 

We can hear a story by Grandpa Grundy!” 


64 


A RED, WHITE 


Grandpa Grundy said: 

“This story will never end, you know. 

If I don’t begin in a minute or so.” 

The children giggled at this, for they liked 
Grandpa Grundy’s little rhymes and learned them 
by heart. 

Instead of telling the story over again, Grandpa 
suggested that they prepare to celebrate the Fourth 
of July. 

The children sat down in a circle and said, “Let 
us make some three-cornered hats; we can make 
them of newspaper.” 

The scissors went “snip-snap,” and said: 

“To cut them nicely I will try. 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July!" 

The paste said: 

“Try to fold them very neatly, 

I will hold them quite completely." 

They made cute little hats for the Fourth of 
July. 

They cut paper for tassels and put them on top 
of the hats. 

Polly and Toddles made the best hats and wore 
them in the Fourth of July parade. 


AND BLUE STORY 


65 


Peterkin carried a big flag as he marched along, 
and Polly clapped her hands to keep time as they 
marched along, and Toddles, to add to the excite- 
ment, set off a whole bunch of firecrackers! 

They had a merry Fourth of July, and they sang: 

“Red, white and blue, our love to you. 

We bring this Fourth of July, 

Red, white and blue, we are patriots, too. 

As the big parade goes by." 

When tired at last, they went home and Grandpa 
Grundy told the real Fourth of July story, and his 
voice sank lower and lower, and Polly cried, “We 
are not going to be caught that way. Grandpa; we, 
none of us, want to go to sleep!” 

Peterkin said, “Have you told all of the real 
Fourth of July story. Grandpa?” Toddles said, 
“Tell us more. Grandpa.” 

Grandpa Grundy said: 

“How can my story be really ended 
Unless the dear old flag is mended?” 

The children went and got a very old flag that 
stood in the corner. This old flag had seen many a 
Fourth of July and Flag Day and Memorial Day. 
It had marched in many a parade. 

It had a great tear in it! 


66 


A RED. WHITE 


The children got needles and thread and mended 
it with patient fingers. 

The children sang as they mended the flag, to 
the tune of “Twinkle, Little Star”: 

“Bonnie Red, and White, and Blue, 

We all bring our love to you. 

Everywhere you wave, ’tis true, 

Bonnie Red, and White, and Blue.” 

Grandpa Grundy said: 

“Some stories are told in song and rhyme. 

Why not act out one this time?” 

“Do you mean it?” asked Polly. 

“Do you mean it?” asked Peterkin. 

Toddles and the neighbor children stared out of 
their big round eyes. 

The children cried, “Hurrah! hurrah! We will 
make up our own story and act it out.” So they 
marched round and round the room,waving the Old 
Flag and the little new flag and they sang all the 
patriotic songs they knew. 

Grandpa Grundy said by and by : 

“If you’re patriotic as I’ve heard said, 

At eight o’clock you will march to bed.” 

Polly and Peterkin led the way, and Toddles fol- 
lowed and the neighbor children followed too, for 


AND BLUE STORY 


67 


they had come to spend the day and night. 

They all said: 

“Right foot, left foot, up we go. 

We’ re soldiers on parade, you know.” 

They tried to see which one could undress the 
quickest and turn out the light, then they ran a race 
trying to get to sleep, while Grandpa Grundy rocked 
patiently to and fro in his own rocking chair. 

Liberty Bell sang out softly: 

“You’ll hear from me again by and by. 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July.” 

The Statue of Liberty proudly held her light, 
singing: 

“To shed my light, I always try. 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July.” 

The Old Flag said: 

“See my bright folds wave on high. 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July.” 

The New Flag called: 

“All about US the colors fly. 

Hurrah! hurrah! for the Fourth of July. 


68 


A RED. WHITE 


Grandpa Grundy sang softly : 

“Good night, sleep tight, 

Is the song I sing to you. 

Good night, sleep tight, 

I hope this story is true. 

The stars and stripes their watch will keep. 

While all the little children sleep. 

Our love for you is broad and deep, 

Bonnie Red, White, and Blue.” 

The Old Flag in the corner found a voice and 
sang Grandpa Grundy to sleep with the old familiar 
song; 

” ‘Tis the Star Spangled Banner, 

Oh, long may it wave. 

O’er the land of the free, 

And the home of the brave.” 


A Valentine Story 

By Laura Rountree Smith. 

I am writing just a line, 

Will you be my valentine? 

I’m very careful to not sign 
My name on any valentine! 

On Valentine’s Day, this is what I’ll do, 

I’ll send this message, “I love you,” 

sang little Cheerful Chickadee one February 
morning. 

^LD MAN PRICKLY PORCUPINE came to the 
door of his house to see what the Chickadee 
was singing about. His quills bristled fiercely and 
he said: 

“I love NOBODY, it is true. 

In this community what can I do?” 

The Cheerful Chickadee replied: 

“The animals all will speed away, 

To send a message on Valentine’s Day.” 

Old Man Prickly Porcupine was very stubborn 
and his quills bristled more than ever as he said: 

”1 never was friendly like this before. 

I’ll go inside and close my door.” 


69 


70 


A VALENTINE STORY 


So saying, Old Man Prickly Porcupine went in- 
side his house and closed the door, but the Cheerful 
Chickadee went on his way singing, as before: 

“On Valentine’s Day this is what I’ll do. 

I’ll send this message, “1 love you.’’ 

Old Hug-Me-Close, the Bear, stuck his head out 
of his den to listen. Old Chatterer, the Monkey, 
put his paw up to his ear to listen. Old Never-Tire, 
the slow-moving Camel, was only too glad of au 
excuse to stop to listen, and Rubber-Neck, the 
Giraffe, craned his neck to see how such a great 
song could come out of such a little throat. He, 
poor fellow, could not sing a song to save his life. 

Over and over the Cheerful Chickadee kept sing- 
ing, “I love you, I love you.” 

All the animals in the woods heard that cheerful 
song though it was snowing and blowing that 
February morning. 

They all came out of their little wee houses and 
dens and met together in the woods and talked 
about making valentines to send on the Fourteenth 
of February. 

They were busy as busy could be, you may be 
sure — all but Old Man Prickly Porcupine. He sat 



Polly Sat Right Down and Wrote a Letter to Porcupine. 


71 


72 


A VALENTINE STORY 


in his little wee house in the doleful dumps, while 
all the animals said: 

“He’s a lonesome fellow, we all agree, 

Not a community worker like you and me.” 

The Cheerful Chickadee went on his way sing- 
ing so loudly that the children heard his song, and 
Polly and Peterkin and Toddles said, “We will make 
valentines, too.” 

They spilled the ink and mis-spelled words, but 
still they had a merry time, and made wonderful 
valentines. They made a red heart and pasted it 
on paper; they made a yellow butterfly for their 
valentine, too, and wrote on it, “To My Love.” 

They put it in an envelope and sent it through 
the mail addressed, “Old Man Prickly Porcupine.” 

They were very careful not to sign their names, 
for half the fun of getting a valentine is in not 
knowing where it came from. 

All this time the animals in the woods were 
making valentines, too. 

It would take years, and years, and years, to tell 
you all the kinds of valentines those comical ani- 
mals made, and it would take years, and years, and 
years, to tell you all the messages they wrote on 
them. 


A VALENTINE STORY 


73 


All the animals sat in a circle in the woods and 
wondered whom they would send their valentines 
to, when Old Man Hug-Me-Close spoke up and 
said: 


“If my name I do not sign, 
ril send mine to Prickly Porcupine.” 

Then Old Man Chatterer spoke up and said : 

“I’ll write a verse or just a line, 

And send it to Prickly Porcupine.*’ 

Then Old Man Never-Tire said: 

“H ere is this pretty valentine, 

I made it for Prickly Porcupine.” 

Old Man Rubber-Neck said never a word, for 
he did not do any talking, but he did a heap of 
thinking. 

If he had talked, he would have said: 

“Will you accept this heart of mine. 

Old Man Prickly Porcupine?” 

The Cheerful Chickadee sang: 

“On Valentine’s Day this is what I’ll do. 

I’ll send this message, “I love you. ’ 

He always sang the same song over and over in 
February. 


74 


A VALENTINE STORY 


He sang loudly to keep up his courage. 

At last February fourteenth came and Old Man 
Prickly Porcupine received valentines from his ani- 
mal friends. When he went to his mail-box, he 
said: 

“Ha, ha, ho, ho, this is really fine. 

Some one sent me a valentine.” 

He took one valentine after another out of the 
box and laughed and danced and capered about, 
singing. 

Now, you know, those cunning little animals did 
not sign their names to the valentines, so they 
thought that Prickly Porcupine would never know 
where they came from, but he had bright eyes and 
bright wits, so the first thing he said upon reading 
.the valentines was: 

“This one came from Hug-Me-Close, the Bear, 

I can see the print of his great paw there.” 

Sure enough, Hug-Me-Close had left the print of 
his great paw on the valentine. 

TTien Prickly Porcupine said: 

“This one came from Chatterer to me, 

His handwriting I know, you see.” 

Then Prickly Porcupine spoke again, saying: 

“This valentine came from Old Never-Tire, 

How I know, you need not inquire.” 


A VALENTINE STORY 


75 


Prickly Porcupine liked to keep some secrets to 
himself. Ihen he said; 

“This valentine really makes me laugh. 

It came from Rubber-Neck, the Giraffe.” 

Just then the Postman came around again and 
brought the valentine from Toddles, and Polly, and 
Peterkin, and Old Man Porcupine said: 

“It was sent by the children as I see. 

It came in an envelope to me.” 

Porcupine was so happy to think every one loved 
him, and that he had so many valentines from his 
friends, that he said: 

“I’ll do something for every one. 

On Valentine’s Day ’ere the set of sun.** 

TTien he sat down two hours and fourteen min- 
utes to think what kind of valentines he could send 
to his friends, for he could not draw, nor paint, 
nor cut out any pictures, to save his life. Sud- 
denly, without any warning whatever, he got up 
and danced round and round. Would he never 
stop? 

He said: 

“I have an idea, it is truly mine, 

I know how to make a valentine.** 


76 


A VALENTINE STORY 


Then he took one of his own quills and sharp- 
ened it until it made an elegant pen. He said: 

“Old Hug-Me-Close, here’s a quill of mine, 

Please accept it for a valentine.” 

Then he made another pen out of one of his own 
quills and wrote: 

“Old Chatterer, here is a quill of mine. 

Please accept it for a valentine.” 

Then he made another pen out of one of his 
quills and sent it to Old Man Never-Tire, and an- 
other and sent it to Rubber-Neck, and he made a 
pen for Toddles and one for Polly and Peterkin. 

He did each quill pen up in a neat little pink box 
and got the Cheerful Chickadee to address each box 
for him. 

He danced and capered about, singing: 

“February fourteenth is very fine, 

It is fun to send out a valentine.” 

The animals were very happy to get their valen- 
tines, you may be sure, and they met together to 
show their beautiful quill pens and shouted at the 
top of their lungs. 

“Hurrah! hurrah! for our valentine. 

Hurrah for Old Prickly Porcupine.” 


A VALENTINE STORY 


77 


When Polly and Peterkin and Toddles got their 
quill pens, Polly sat right down and wrote a letter 
to Old Prickly Porcupine, thanking him. 

As Grandpa Grundy was telling this story, his 
voice sank lower and lower. 

Toddles’ head began to go nid-nid nodding, and 
before the story was half told he was fast asleep. 

When Grandpa Grundy was three-quarters 
through the story he talked in such a sing-song 
kind of way that Peterkin began to grow sleepy and 
rub his eyes. 

When he was nearly at the end, Polly yawned 
and covered her mouth politely, and soon Grandpa 
Grundy said: 

“I hope I told that story right, 

Good night — Sleep tight! 

Then Toddles woke up and kissed Grandpa 
Grundy and all the children kissed him and they 
went hoppety-skippety up to bed, talking merrily 
about valentines, for tomorrow would be St. Valen- 
tine’s Day. 

They hoped the Postman would leave them a box 
full of valentines! 

That night Polly dreamed a funny dream. She 
thought Old Man Prickly Porcupine, and Old Man 


78 


A VALENTINE STORY 


Hug-Me-Close, Old Man Chatterer, and Old Never- 
Tire, and Rubber-Neck, all came and peeped in her 
window and said: 

“Look in the mail box before eleven, 

You may get valentines one or seven!" 

Peterkin dreamed that the animals all came “rap- 
a-tap” at the door, saying: 

“Look in the mail box just for fun. 

You may get valentines six or one.” 

Toddles dreamed that some one rang the tele- 
phone and said: 

“Look in the mail box now and see, 

Valentines two or five or three." 

I wonder which dream came true? 

The Cheerful Chickadee went merrily on his way 
singing: 

“On Valentine’s Day, this is what I’ll do, 

I’ll send this message, “I love you.” 



(g) K CO . IHC.. 

BELIEVE ME IF ALL THOSE 
ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS 

Thou woulds’t still be adored, as this 
moment thou art, 

Let thy loveliness fade as it will; 

And around this dear ruin each wish 
of my heart 

Would entwine itself verdantly still. 




The Cookie Man 

RANDPA GRUNDY said one evening: 

“I cannot sleep, you’ve heard it said, 

If I go hungry off to bed,” 


He had come to spend the night with the chil- 
dren, so Polly said: 


“Will you have doughnuts. Grandpa Grundy? 

For we made them fresh on Monday.** 

Toddles said: 

“Shall I get you chocolate cake? 

The very best that I could bake?** 

Peterkin winked and said: 

“I think it’s wise wherever you are. 

To take a peek in the cookie jar.’* 

Grandpa Grundy nodded and said: 

“Bring me some cookies quick as you can. 

From the cookie jar, or the baking pan. 

Bring me some cookies as quick as you can. 

And I’ll tell you the tale of the Cookie Man.** 

After the old fellow ate some cookies, he began 

the story of THE COOKIE MAN: 


79 


The Cookie Man 

Laura Rountree Smith. 

Hark to the tale of the Cookie Man 
Freshly arrived from the baking pan, 

He sometimes cried, “It’s a surprise 
The things I see from my curranty eyes,” 

He is round and sweet and good to eat. 

We really find him quite a treat. 

O NE Jay when Aunt Sally made cookies she 

rolled out a Cookie Man and put in currants 

for eyes, and to her surprise she heard a fairy hum: 

“How can he breathe do you suppose. 

If you don’t give him a curranty nose?” 

Aunt Sally laughed softly as she put in a cur- 
rant for the Cookie Man’s nose. Then the fairy said: 

“You havent finished him by half, 

Without a mouth how can he laugh?” 

Then Aunt Sally finished up the Cookie Man in 

great shape, and gave him a mouth and ears, and 

pricked his head with a fork to look like hair, and 

she gave him wonderfully perfect arms and legs. 

She set him in the oven, and in a little while he 

found his voice and cried: 

“You may care for this oven like as not, 

But truly I do find it rather hot.** 


80 


THE COOKIE MAN 


81 


Aunt Sally opened the oven door just in time 
to save the Cookie Man from scorching! 

He jumped about on the table in a comical man- 
ner and at this very minute Jack and Jill came 
into the room crying: 

“Oh let us eat him quick as we can, 

This dear little, queer little Cookie Man." 

To the surprise of all the Cookie Man shouted, 
in his sweet, sugary voice: 

“Ask the dishes upon the table. 

To eat the Cookie Man are you able?” 

The children took the hint of course and ran 
and got the dish pan full of water and they washed 
and dried the dishes neatly, while the Cookie Man 
danced about first on one foot and then on the 
other. Jack said: 

“Now the dishes are clean and dry. 

To eat this Cookie Man I’ll try.” 

The Cookie Man said: 

“Ask the broom upon the floor. 

Was I ever eaten up before?” 

Jack took the broom and swept the floor while 
Jill put the dishes away. Jill began to sing: 

“Now, I’ll eat the Cookie Man, 

See me catch him if I can.” 


82 


THE COOKIE MAN 


At this, the Cookie Man shouted merrily: 

“Hang out the washing on the line, 

To lend a helping hand is fine.” 

The children ran and helped Aunt Sally hang 
out a basket full of clothes. When they came back 
into the kitchen to their surprise the Cookie Man 
shouted: 

"Nibble my fingers and bite my toes, 

I was made to be eaten, I suppose.” 

Jack nibbled his fingers and Jill nibbled his toes. 

Then the Cookie Man sang: 

“Once in a while a Cookie Man cries. 

How do you like my curranty eyes’?” 

The children each took an eye and the Cookie 
Man shouted: 

Take another bite, your mouth I’ll sweeten 
For 1 was made to be eaten, eaten I” 

Now, will you believe it, the children were so 
hungry they ate every bit of the Cookie Man except 
his curranty mouth and he called: 

Ha, ha, ha, you can’t understand, 

I ve only travelled to Fairyland.” 

They looked out the window; there stood a 


THE COOKIE MAN 


83 


brand new Cookie Man with a tiny traveling bag in 
one hand, and he waved the other hand to them. 

“Stop him, stop him,” cried the children to Aunt 
Sally as she came in the door. 

"The Cookie Man that you made today, 

Is really truly running away." 

Aunt Sally looked surprised and said: 

"The Cookie Man is such a treat, 

I thought you’d like him just to eat." 

Jack and Jill stared at each other for they thought 
they had eaten the Cookie Man sure enough. 

Just then a fairy voice called to them: 

“You’d better look in the baking pan, 

And search for another Cookie Man." 


Aunt Sally had forgotten that she had still one 
pan of cookies in the oven. 

Each round cookie in that pan, 

Had turned into a Cookie Man, 

And just as we thought this story done. 

They came out dancing one by one! 


Little Playfair 

Laura Rountree Smith. 

L ittle play-fair was a wonderful Rock- 
ing Horse with real hair, and a real saddle, but 
if you guessed one hundred years you could never 
guess the most wonderful thing about him. 

He had a little talking machine in his throat, 
and was always saying: 

“Of the Rocking Horse beware, 

You must play fair, you must play fair!” 

Then, whoever he was talking to, knew that he 

was being watched by the Rocking Horse, and 

that he must play fair. 

One time the Toys said they would play a game 
of Ping-Pong. The Soldier Doll, and the Bisque 
Doll, and the Rag Doll, and the Sailor Doll took 
part. Oh! it was a merry game! 

While the game was going on the Rocking Horse 
said to a Wooden Saw Horse in the corner: 

“Why don’t you learn to talk in verse? 

’Twill never make the story worse.” 


84 


LITTLE PLAY-FAIR 


85 


The Saw Horse was amused, you may be sure, 
and after that, he tried to talk in verse every chance 
he got. 

The game of Ping-Pong went on. One of the 
dolls began to cheat; she said she had won a point 
when she had not. 

The Rocking Horse rocked right up to them 
and shouted; 

“Of the Rocking Horse beware, 

You must play fair, you must play fair.” 

The Rag Doll, who had been cheating, took a 
place in the corner and the Cloth Doll took her 
place. 

It was a pleasant evening and the Rocking Horse 
said to the Saw Horse; 

“Let us walk a mile or two, 

‘Twill be good exercise for you.” 

So they went out into the moonlight and rode 
away, away, away. 

By and by they stopped at a farm house and 
the Saw Horse fell asleep standing up in plain sight, 
but the Rocking Horse hid under the porch and 
next day he rocked back to the Toy Shop. 


86 


LI TTLE PLAY-FAIR 

A boy came to saw wood and exclaimed: 

**I always have good luck of course, 

Here I find an old Saw Horse.” 

He began to saw wood. 

“Creak, creak,” went the saw, and by and by 
he said he had sawed half a cord of wood when 
he had only sawed a quarter of a cord. 

When he went for his money the Saw Horse 
cried: 

‘‘Of the old Saw Horse beware. 

You must play fair, you must play fair.” 

The boy was so surprised he ran away without 
a penny, but a still funnier thing happened. 

The little farmer’s son had a pony standing near 
and he learned the verse almost by heart! 

It was the farmer’s son’s birthday, and he had 
a real boy’s party. The children all took turns 
riding his ponj^ Whenever a child cried, “It is my 
turn,” and tried to take a ride out of his turn, the 
pony would call: 

‘‘Of the pony do beware, 

You must play fair, you must play fair.” 

The children said he was the finest pony in the, 
world and they had many rides upon his back. 


LITTLE PLAY-FAIR 


87 


They stroked his glossy coat and fed him lumps 
of sugar and said, “We never heard of a talking 
pony before.” 

The children never forgot him, and after that 
whenever they began to quarrel on the playground 
at school, some one was sure to say: 

“Perhaps there is a better way. 

What would Little Play-Fair say?” 

The old Saw Horse kept spreading the news 
about playing fair, and the real, live pony often 
talked about it as the days went by. 

One evening the toys were playing games as 
usual; the drum went “rap-a-tap.” 

Up jumped Jack-in-the-Box, and said: 

“Oh Rocking Horse right in the corner. 

Why do you linger in Toyland longer? 
Wherever you go, whatever you say, 

We always hear you talk, ‘ Fair Play. 

The Rocking Horse rocked contentedly to and 
fro in the corner. He said: 

“When you know a good thing pass it along, 

Tell it in story and tell it in song. 


88 


LITTLE PLAY-FAIR 


He said he did not have to rock out of his cor- 
ner any more, for he had taught the Saw Horse, 
and the Saw Horse had in turn taught the pony all 
he knew. The pony taught the boys and girls all 
he knew. 

The Rocking Horse stayed in Toyland for 
another reason. He found the Toys needed look- 
ing after. 

If you ever find this wonderful Rocking Horse, 
go and pat his head gently and you will hear him 
say: 


‘‘Of the Rocking Horse beware, 

You must play fair, you must play fair. 
‘Little Play-Fair’ is, of course, 

A very wonderful Toyland Horse.” 


The Little Boy Who Liked to 
Wear Rubbers 

Laura Rountree Smith. 

FAIRY SUNSHINE sang: 

“For one little boy I have to wait. 

Though I’m looking for him early and late.” 

“Who? Who? Who?” whistled Lady Wind. 

Fairy Sunshine sang as she danced on the floor: 

“1 am looking for a little boy, 

Lady Wind, please don’t annoy.” 

At this. Lady Wind blew a great blast and laugh- 
ingly said: 

“That you can’t find him is a pity, 

There are boys in every town and city." 

Fairy Sunshine danced this way and that way 
and sang: 

“You are so noisy when you shout. 

You don’t know what you talk about. 

Come search a while now, if you choose. 

For the boy who likes to wear overshoes." 

Then Lady Wind changed her tune and said: 

“To tell you this I quite regret. 

So many children shout and fret. 


80 


90 


THE LITTLE BOY WHO 


Fairy Sunshine vanished suddenly calling: 

“Lady Wind, please let me explain, 

1 peep from a cloud to see Lady Rain.” 

Lady Rain came with a pitter, patter, pitter, 
patter of silvery feet. She heard Fairy Sunshine 
and Lady Wind and she sang: 

“1 really do not wish to annoy. 

I’ll help you find that little boy.” 

Now, will you believe it, they looked a year and 
a day but could not find him. 

Fairy Sunshine often called: 

“It is muddy today so I’ll look out 
For one little boy I’m talking about.” 

Now many little boys had on rubbers but they 
scolded about wearing them, and Lady Wind 
peeped back of many a front door and saw rub- 
bers piled up in heaps with mud upon them. 

Fairy Rain sang: 

“Perhaps little boys just like to tease. 

They may wear rubbers if I make it freeze.” 

My! how slippery the sidewalks became! 

One little boy ran out of school wearing rub- 
bers, and the children called, “There goes RUB- 
BERS!” 


LIKED TO WEAR RUBBERS 


91 


Fairy Sunshine peeped out from behind a cloud. 

Lady Wind paused to listen, and Fairy Rain said: 

“Hurry up, don’t let him disappear, 

I think your boy is found right here.” 

This little boy ran home singing: 

“I like to wear rubbers on my feet. 

They keep my new shoes bright and neat” 

He had saved pennies and dimes and quarters, 
for weeks and weeks to buy his own shoes. 

He had split wood, and run errands, and worked 
many hours to make some money, for his old shoes 
were run down at the heel and split at the toes. 

He said: 

“If I earn shoes I’ll also try. 

To buy some rubbers to keep them dry.” 

He wanted to buy a pair of skates too, for the 
boys all went skating after school, but his little 
savings bank remarked: 

“Of good things you’ll have to choose, 

I have money for rubbers and also shoes. ’ 

You see the little bank did not say a word about 
skates ! 


I 


92 THE LITTLE BOY WHO 

This little boy took such care of his shoes, he 
wore rubbers when the sidewalks were damp, and 
when it rained and when it was muddy, so the boys 
nicknamd him “RUBBERS!” 

He sang: 

“Ho, ho, it may seem startling news, 

I like to wear rubbers over my shoes.” 

Fairy Sunshine sang: 

“We have found him at any rate, 
ril whisper to grandpa about the skates.” 

Lady Wind sang: 

“This boy may not have long to wait. 

I’ll whisper to grandma about the skates.” 

Fairy Rain sang: 

“With his mother I’ll make a date. 

And whisper to her about the skates.” 

Grandpa knew the ice was thick upon the pond. 
Grandma knew her purse was full of gold pieces. 
Mother said: 

“To me it’s always such joy. 

You have clean feet my little boy.” 

Then one day there came a mysterious pack- 
age to the house, and the little boy’s eyes danced. 


LIKED TO WEAR RUBBERS 


93 


and he clapped his hands as he saw a brand new 
pair of skates just his size. 

Fairy Sunshine danced about. 

Lady Wind whistled and sang, and Fairy Rain 
hovered about, for she was busy making a rainbow, 
but after all it was Lady Wind who carried the 
news all over the world: 

“He likes to wear rubbers; he’ll always try 
To keep his new shoes clean and dry.” 

This story Lady Wind relates, 

As he sings, “Hurrah, for the fine new skates.” 


Little I Can’t and Little Miss Try 

Laura Roundtree Smith 

O NE evening Polly and Toddles and Peterkin 

said, “Grandpa Grundy, what kind of a story 

are you going to tell us tonight?” 

To this, the old fellow replied; 

“What will happen if 1 have told. 

All the stories my head can hold?’* 

Polly said, “Have you really told all the stories 

you know. Grandpa?” 

Toddles said, “Can’t you invent a Fairy Tale?” 
Peterkin said, “Tell us an old story over again, 
please. Grandpa.” 

Just then Toddles, who was sitting on Grandpa’s 

lap, began to feel in his left hand coat pocket and 

in less than no time he pulled out a little blue book 

Granda Grundy said: 

“Ha, ha, ha, now, I will look. 

For a Good Night Story in this book.” 

He began to read the very first story that caught 

his eye, entitled: 

“Little I Can’t and Little Miss Try.” 


94 


LITTLE MISS TRY 


95 


Little I Can’t always said, “I can’t,” from morn- 
ing till night, and one day Fairy See-It-All said: 

"Oh dear, oh dear, what will I do? 

Little I Can’t, to make a woman of you?” 

To this Little I Can’t replied: 

“I Can’t go alone to bed, 

I might meet a Goblin it is said. 

Really I Can’t turn out the light, 

I Can’t decide to say good night.” 

Fairy See-It-All skipped along and said: 

“Here’s Little I Can’t in the Dreamship hold her. 
Before she gets five minutes older.” 

The Little Girl never could tell just how it hap- 
pened, but she found herself in the Dreamship and 
five and twenty little Dwarfs around her saying: 

“You have a very intelligent look. 

We hope you really know how to cook!” 

How fortunate it was that was the thing 
Little Girl knew how to do. 

She had watched her mother make coffee and 
biscuits and season soup many times, but we can- 
not get over our bad habits in a minute, and though 
she made a fine meal for the Dwarfs in their Dream- 
ship, when bed time came she said: 

“I’ll have to stay up all night I guess. 

For 1 can’t unbutton my dress.” 


96 


LITTLE I CANT AND 


Then of course, the five and twenty little Dwarfs 
had to help her. They tugged and pulled at this 
button, and that button, and said; 

You’d better learn to undress by and by. 

And change your name to Little Miss Try.” 

Then the Little Girl said; 

‘‘I’m never ready for bed — not quite, 

I can’t reach to turn out the light.” 

By this time the Dwarfs were sleepy themselves 
so they said; 

‘‘We’re sorry it is up so high, 

To turn it out you’ll have to try.” 

Little I Can’t saw there was no help for her this 
time, so she got soap boxes, and soap boxes, and 
soap boxes, and piled them one on top of another, 
and at last put out the high light and, of course, 
it was a difficult thing to do, as the Dreamship 
was moving rapidly on its way to Sleepy Town. 

Now, will you believe it, Little I Can’t kept the 
Dwarfs awake four hours and sixteen minutes, 
saying; 


‘‘I really think that I shall weep. 
For I can’t go right off to sleep.” 


LITTLE MISS TRY 


97 

The little Dwarfs were very kind-hearted, and 
they got up and told Little Girl stories until she 
fell asleep. 

Next day she called; 

‘‘Little Dwarfs, Little Dwarfs, have you heard the news? 
I’m eight, but cannot button my shoes! 


My! what a time they had buttoning her shoes! 
Then she said: 

“Don’t you see I am in distress? 

I never learned to button my dress!” 

Then they buttoned her dress and skipped along 
the deck of the Dreamship. 

The Little Girl called them back saying: 

“I’m a wee Little Girl but don’t you care 
Really I can’t comb my hair! ” 

So it went on all day, she kept saying, “I can’t,** 
and in the evening the Dwarfs whispered together: 

“She can’t do this, that, or the other. 

We wonder is there such another? 

Let’s throw her overboard into the deep, 

So we can have a little sleep!” 

One wise old Dwarf shook his head however, 
and said: 


98 


LITTLE I CANT AND 


“That would never do, oh my! 

We will teach her how to try. 

We ll put it in story and put it in song, 

To help other boys and girls along.” 

So, whenever Little Girl started to say, “I can’t,” 
the little Dwarfs cried: 

“You’ll be grown up by and by 
If you’ll change your tune to 

‘YES— I’LL TRY’!’’ 

Fairy See-It-All was pleased then to see the Lit- 

« 

tie Girl try to help herself, and said: 

“The Dreamship’s rocking low and high, 

Time to go home again Little Miss Try!” 

The Little Girl rubbed her sleepy eyes, for she 
thought she was home, and saw a fairy peeping 
in the window. 

She got up quickly and buttoned her shoes and 

her dress (all but the top button), and she brushed 

her hair the best she could, and she laughed as she 

thought of the little Dwarfs in the Dreamship. 

“Now, this Little Girl always tries. 

And gives her parents a great surprise. 

Can you guess the reason why? 

She always says, ‘Oh yes. I’ll try’! 

Where she learned they cannot understand. 

But you and I know ’twas in Fairyland, 

In the Dreamship we’ll ride by and by 

And I’ll introduce you to Little Miss Try!” 


Fairy Wide-A-Wake 

A GO-TO-BED STORY. 

By Laura Rountree Smith. 

On the road to Sleepy-Town, 

If you smile instead of frown, 

You’ll see travelling up and down 
Funny folk in cap and gown. 

qne evening Tommy Tittlemouse: 

“Stamped his foot and shook his head 
And said, ‘I will not go to bed’.’’ 

To his surprise he saw the cutest little fairy 
nodding to him from the very top of the stairway. 

The fairy wore a green suit and a green cap with 
a red feather. He laughed and said: 

• “Don’t go to bed, don’t make that mistake 
Come away with Fairy Wide-Awake.’’ 

Before Tommy could get over his surprise, the 
Fairy slid down the stair-rail, took him by the hand 
and soon they were running over hill and dale as 
fast as their legs could carry them. 

They came to a little wee house in the great big 
woods, and little wee lights gleamed from each 
window. 


99 


100 


FAIRY WIDE-AWAKE 


Fairy W^ide-Awake explained: 

“We’re the Wide-Awake Fairies, we like to play 
We never sleep by night or day.” 

THEN THE FIRST SURPRISING THING 
HAPPENED! 

Fairy Wide-Awake put a pair of wings on the 
little boy’s back and they sailed up over the house 
top and down the chimney. 

Fairy Wide-Awake remarked: 

“We seldom enter by the door. 

For we find mortal ways a bore.” 

Down they sailed into a gayly lighted room 
where all the Fairies were dancing and singing. 

“We’ll stay awake now if you please. 

For we are all such busy bees.” 

THEN THE SECOND SURPRISING THING 
HAPPENED! 

Suddenly, without any warning, and in a single 
instant of time, the lights went out, and Tommy 
sat down in an old rocking chair in the corner. 
My! how sleepy he felt! 

He would have hardly heard a knock at the door 
if Fairy Wide-Awake had not fairly shouted: 

“That rap-a-tap 1 heard before, 

Now you must hasten to the door.” 


FAIRY WIDE-AWAKE 


101 


Tommy opened the door and in Walked Old Mrs. 
Fuss and Feathers, a very wide-awake Hen. She 
said: 

“Who stole my nest with eggs, one, two, three. 
Come, little boy, will you answer me?” 

Tommy had not stolen the eggs, but it took him 
one hour and sixty-nine minutes to smooth down 
the old Hen’s feathers. 

He began to rock to and fro, to and fro, and his 
sleepy head went nid-nid nodding, when Fairy 
Wide-Awake gave him a poke and said: 

“To hear that rap you must not fail. 

Go open the door for Tiny-Tail.” 

Tommy opened the door and in walked Tiny- 
Tail, the Rabbit, saying: 

“To go to sleep, don’t form the habit 
I am the Wide-Awake Fairy Rabbit.” 

Now, can you understand it, it took one hour 
and sixty-two minutes to smooth down the fur 
of Tiny-Tail, for the Fox had been chasing him! 

Tommy began to nid, nid-nod, and he would 
have been fast asleep in the twinkling of an eye, 
whether or no, but Fairy Wide-Awake pulled him 
out of the old rocking chair, saying: 


102 


FAIRY WIDE-AWAKE 


“Don’t keep him waiting, I declare, 

Open the door for the Wide-Awake Bear. 

When Tommy opened the door the Wide-Awake 
Bear hugged them all, pleasantly growling: 

“Where will I find a sleeping cap? 

It is most time for my winter nap.” 

Now, can you imagine it, it took Tommy and 
the Fairy one hour and sixty-six minutes to make 
the Bear a sleeping-cap, and he growled all the 
time pleasantly: 

“I am such a sleepy Bear 
Really no one seems to care. 

If you would only quiet keep 
I’d curl right up here and sleep.” 

All the time Fairy Wide-Awake sang: 

“It is no fun to go to bed. 

Wake up, wake up, wake up, instead.” 

THEN THE THIRD SURPRISING THING 
HAPPENED! 

When the sleeping cap was finished the Wide- 
Awake Bear put it on and came closer, and closer, 
and closer to Tommy. 

He hugged him and ran out of the house with 
him and Fairy Wide-Awake shouted: 


FAIRY WIDE-AWAKE 


103 


“He is quite a sleepy head. 

But don’t you let him go to bed.’* 

The Wide-Awake Bear felt so nice and warm 
and wooly that Tommy fell asleep in spite of 
himself. 

THEN THE FOURTH SURPRISING THING 
HAPPENED ! 

It was Mother’s voice he heard: 

“You’d better mind what mother said, 

And scamper right up-stairs to bed.’’ . 

To her surprise Tommy went with a hop and a 
skip and a bound upstairs that night, and every 
night for 365 nights he ran quickly to bed when 
he was told! 

He remembered that Fairy Wide-Awake would 
not let him sleep, and he thought the Wide-Awake 
Bear was taking him off to his den to make him 
sleep all winter! 

Mother is surprised to see Tommy so good now 
about going to bed. 

He runs to bed early in every season. 

And Fairy Wide-Awake knows the reason. 


Good Health Thoughts 

It’s funny when you stop to think, 

We need so much pure food and drink, 
Good Health rules we’ll learn and so 
In Good Health Town we’ll live you know. 

When we pack a lunch for school. 

We will find it a safe rule. 

To put in plenty of brown bread. 

It’s very wholesome it is said. 

Fruit is very good to eat. 

But please don’t take too much sweet. 
Good Health practice please keep up, 
And use your own drinking cup. 

Drink pure water every day, 

’Twill help you keep disease away, 

Come, let’s go walking up and down. 
Happy children in Good Health Town. 


104 


Little Miss By And By 

By Laura Rountree Smith 
NE evening mother said, 

“Sleepy time for the toys. 

Sleepy time for girls and boys.” 

Dorothy Ann looked up from her toys and said : 
“Yes, mother, by and by.” 

The Old Family Clock said: 

“Tick, tock, tick, tock. 

You’ll forget like as not.” 

Mother went on reading and Dorothy Ann stood 
her dolls up in a row. 

Father looked up over his newspaper and said: 

“To-morrow you’ll be a sleepy-head, 

Dorothy Ann, it’s time for bed.” 

The little girl picked up her dolls slowly and went 
upstairs dragging one foot after the other. 

To her surprise she saw the old red rocking chair 
rocking to and fro, to and fro, and it seemed to sing 
to her: 

“Rocking low and rocking high, 

Make one sleeply by and by.” 


105 


106 


LITTLE MISS BY AND BY 


It was a real voice from a real fairy, who sang 
again : 

I am Little Fairy Do-It-Now, 

You can change your name, ITI show you how,” 

In the rocking chair sat a fairy as dainty as a 
thistle down. She sang: 

“To go to bed seems quite absurd, 

At least that’s what I always heard." 

The Fairy jumped onto the bed, and the little 
girl winked and blinked her eyes, she was so sur- 
prised to see a real Fairy. 

The Fairy sang again: 

"Come over the hills and far away. 

And I’ll show you a Fairy play.” 

To her surprise, Dorothy Ann began to talk in 
verse, too. She said: 

"To be a Fairy I’d like to try. 

I’ll follow you maybe by and by." 

In through the window floated a magic carpet. 
They sat on it side by side, and they floated away, 
away, up, up, up, and down, down, down, until 
they landed in Fairyland. 

All the Fairies were dancing and singing: 


LITTLE MISS BY AND BY 


107 


“Come to the Fairy dell away, away, away. 

List to the magic spell, dance till break of day.” 

They danced lightly ?.way, and the Little Fairy 
sang after them: 

“To follow you I’d like to try, 

But I have with me Miss By and By.” 

The little girl looked so surprised, she said: 

“My real name is Dorothy Ann, 

I’H try to be on time if 1 can." 

The Fairy said: 

“Here comes a Fairy feast for two. 

Miss By and By, be careful — do.” 

In rolled a table full of candy, and pie, and ice 
cream cones. 

Dorothy Ann clasped her hands, and just as they 
were going to sit down to the table, a voice cried: 

“Away, away the feast will fly, 

H ere is little Miss By and By.” 

Dorothy Ann was about to cry, she was so dis- 
appointed, when down floated a little blue dressing 
gown and a blue cap and tiny blue slippers. They 
were just her size. She began to feel very sleepy, 
and as she was slipping on the pretty blue fairy 
things, a voice cried: 


108 


LITTLE MISS BY AND BY 


“We made a mistake, oh me, oh my, 

These were not for Miss By and By.*’ 

Dorothy Ann said, sleepily; 

“Never mind about the cap and gown, 

I want to go back to Sleepy Town.” 

The Fairies returned and sang; 

“This little girl makes us often sigh. 

We might take her home now, by and by.” 

Dorothy Ann began to cry into her red pocket 
handkerchief. 

The Fairies all crowded round her, singing; 
Little Miss By and By ; 

“You’re told to wash dishes and you reply 
‘Yes mother. I’ll do it by and by,’ 

You are late to school now as a rule. 

That’s worse than any April Fool. 

You’re told to do things and reply, 

‘Perhaps I will do them by and by.’ 

Dorothy Ann said; 

“I’ll change my name to Do-lt-Now, 

If the Fairies will tell me how.” 

They stood an enchanted ground where all wishes 
come true, and the Faries sang as they circled round 
her: 

“This little girl really means to try 
And banish forever by and by. 


LITTLE MISS BY AND BY 


109 


We’ll make her very glad she came, 

Do-It-Now, is a fairy name. 

Perhaps she’ll sleep in the arm-chair 
Instead of her bed — we don’t much care. 

We’ve cured her — we’ll not tell you how 
Good night Little Miss Do-It-Now.” 

Dorothy Ann was in the old arm chair sure 
enough when her mother called: 

“You fell asleep in the chair it seems, 

I hope you had some pleasant dreams!’* 

Next day Dorothy Ann dressed quickly and did 
things when she was told, and Father said: 

“I can’t find her however hard I try. 

My daughter Little Miss By and By.” 

Mother said: 

“Miss Do-It-Now has come I declare, 

A surprise waits her in the rocking chair.’* 

Dorothy Ann went up stairs with a hop, and a 
skip, and a bound. There in the old red rocking 
chair was a pretty blue gown, and cap and slippers. 

Then the Little Fairy made a bow. 

And said “How do you do Miss Do-It-Now,” 


Little Sir Waste-A-Bit 

By Laura Rountree Smith 
ITTLE SIR WASTE-A-BIT gets up out of the 
wrong side of the bed some mornings; then 
everything goes wrong with him. 

If I were his mother I think I’d scold, 

His coffee’s too hot and his toast too cold! 

He sits scowling at the table. 

He never eats as he really should, 

He helps himself and wastes his food! 

He leaves his oatmeal, swimming in cream, hardly 
tasted. 

This had been going on for some time, when 
Fairy See-It-All peeped in the window. She 
watched him all day and said he had been well 
named, for she saw him waste food, and time, and 
money, and patience, and many other things. 

Fairy See-It-All whispered: 

“This little boy must learn to save. 

In Fairyland he will behave.’’ 

She touched his eyes, and he became sleepy ; his 
head went nid-nid-nodding, and the next thing he 
knew he was in school in Fairyland. 


110 


UTTLE SIR WASTE-A-BIT 


1 1 1 

Old Father Time made him learn to count and 
say over and over : 

“Save a minute, if in your power, 

You may sometime save an hour.” 

Fairy Patience taught him many lessons, saying: 

“Save the patience of those around you. 

Then we’ll be very glad we found you.” 

Five and twenty little toy banks came crowding 
around him, begging him to save his pennies, cry- 
ing: 

“Save a penny or two, in time. 

You may learn to have a dime.” 

At the table in Fairyland he was only passed a 
very little coffee, and toast, and oatmeal, and try 
hard as he would he never could eat a mouthful. 
Just as he tried to eat, the fairy food would sail 
away, away, away, and a merry voice would cry : 

“Save some food as you are taught 
Or our training comes to naught.” 

Little Sir Waste-A-Bit did not know that the 
fairies were not teasing him, but that if he ate fairy 
food he would become a real fairy and have to stay 
in Fairyland. 


112 


LITTLE SIR WASTE-A-BIT 


The fairies crowded about him, teaching him 
useful things, singing: 

“His teachers are odd you understand. 

He goes to school in Fairyland.” 

In trooped the little Hill Men with empty money 
bags, shouting: 

“We wish we had the pennies he wasted, 

We wish we had the food he tasted.” 

Then they gave him five and twenty blows and 
chased him out of Fairyland. 

Fairy See-It-All peeped in the window and saw 
him rub his sleepy eyes as he rocked to and fro in 
his little red rocking chair. 

He said in a sing-song kind of a way : 

“To you it may seem very funny. 

But I’ll help the Hill Men save some money.” 

He went to bed, and Fairy See-It-All laughed 
merrily. 

Next day the most surprising things began to 
happen. 

At table he had a thoughtful air. 

He helped himself to food with care. 

His parents smiled as he watched the clock. 


LITTLE SIR WASTE-A-BIT 


113 


He often sang a little rhyme. 

I’ll hurry and get to school on time. 

Instead of scolding and pouting and losing pa- 
tience when things went wrong, he said; 

“I’ve learned to be a thoughtful boy, 

I will save patience. I’ll not annoy.’’ 

When children in school begged him to spend a 
penny for gum or Ccuidy he said : 

“Sir Waste- A-Bit, it seems so funny, 

To see you save a little money.” 

Then he told what he had learned in a few short 
hours in Fairyland. 

After that, he changed his name. 

H e is Little Sir Thrift of great renown. 

He lives in cities, he lives in town. 

He says. If you try you can save-a-bit, too. 

And then he takes off his hat to you. 

If some of these things you can’t understand 
Just travel with me into Fairyland. 

Sir Waste-A-Bit has journeyed away. 

For Little Sir Thrift has come to stay. 


Little Boy Bear 

by Laura Rountree Smith 
NCE upon a time Little Boy Bear had a sneezy, 

barky cold, and only his little red night-cap 
knew how miserable he was. 

“Come out and play,” called the Sunshine. 

“Come out and play,” called the Wind.” 

Then the Wind changed its tune and whistled 
and sang down the chimney: 

“Other folks have troubles as well as you. 

Whoo — Whoo — Whoo — Whoo?” 

Little Boy Bear wondered who was in trouble, so 
he looked out the window and the door, and before 
he knew it he had gone, hoppety, hop, down the 
path, singing: 

‘Tm Little Boy Bear, but you understand, 

I like to lend a helping hand.” 

The first person he met was Tiny-Tail, the Rab- 
bit, holding her little red handkerchief up to her 
eyes. 

Little Boy Bear said between sneezes: 


114 


LITTLE BOY BEAR 


115 


“Brother Tiny-Tail without a doubt. 

You’ll tell me what you’re troubled about.” 

Tiny-Tail, who was just returning from a dance, 
said: 

“My little house is all snowed in. 

Boo, hoo, how can I get within?” 

Little Boy Bear took a snow shovel and worked 
with might and main to shovel her out. 

Next, he met Fuzzy-Tail, the Squirrel, who was 
weeping and wailing after the big snow storm. 
Little Boy Bear said between coughs: 

“Brother Fuzzy-Tail without a doubt. 

You’ll tell me what you’re troubled about.” 

Fuzzy -Tail was lost in the woods, and replied: 

“I can’t find my hole in the Hollow Tree 
I am just as puzzled as can be.” 

Then Little Boy Bear danced this way and that 
way, for he knew every tree in the woods, and he 
took Fuzzy-Tail safely home. 

Next, he met Bushy-Tail the old Fox sitting on 
a log, with a basket of vegetables beside him. He 

was moaning and groaning. 

Little Boy Bear said between a sneeze and a 

cough: 


116 


LITTLE BOY BEAR 


“Brother Bushy-Tail without a doubt, 

You’ll tell me what you’re troubled about.” 

At this, Bushy-Tail hemmed and hawed, for he 
had the reputation of being a sly old fellow, but 
Little Boy Bear was not to be put off, so Bushy-Tail 
said: 

“The rheumatiz has got my back, 

1 can’t carry my basket, alas, alack.’’ 

Little Boy Bear said he would carry it, so he went 
with Bushy-Tail hippety-hop to his den. 

When Little Boy Bear bade him good bye, he 
went home with such an appetite, he said : 

“To some folks it might seem funny 
But I could eat a pot of honey!” 

When he got home it was almost bed time, and 
to his surprise his sneezy, barky cold was gone. 

The Sunshine knew something about breaking 
up a cold, and Fairy Exercise chuckled, and Fairy 
Helping-Hand laughed right out loud as Little Boy 
Bear said : 

“It’s very chilly this time of year 


The Holiday Hare 

Laura Rountree Smith 

I’m the Holiday Hare with never a care, 

A merry fellow am I, 

I’m the Holiday Hare with never a care. 

Hurrah for the Fourth of July! 

O HOUTED that long-eared gentleman, as he 

peeped in the window and saw Bobby Bright- 

Eyes lying in bed. 

Bobby Bright Eyes said: 

“I’m all in the dumps. 

Because of the mumps. 

No flag I fly 

On the Fourth of July!” 

Then he gave a sob, for he thought of the big 
Fourth of July parade, the fireworks, red lemonade 
and all. 

Said the Holiday Hare, 

“For the mumps I don’t care. 

On my back you may ride. 

O’er the world far and wide." 

Bobby Bright Eyes could hardly believe his ears! 

“All he could do was to stare and stare 
As in came the rollicking Holiday Hare. 

He soon was safely on the Hare’s back and they 

went away, away, away. They met an old person 

called History, who said, “Where are you going?” 

The Holiday Hare replied: 

“The Holiday Hare never can tell. 

But I think we’ll visit Liberty Bell.” 


117 


THE HOLIDAY HARE. 


1 18 

They came to Independence Hall, and all the 
flags were waving and singing: 

“The reason we are bright and gay, 

We’re waving for Independence Day, 

Thirteen stripes and forty-eight stars, 

Hurrah! hurrah! for this country of ours!” 

The flags told about our people announcing 
themselves an independent nation. 

The drum said: 

“Follow me, there’s another story to tell. 

I’ll introduce you to Liberty Bell.’’ 

They went on until they came to the Old Liberty 
Bell. 

It spoke in a cracked voice for it was very old, 
and it even had a crack in one side. 

The Liberty Bell sang: 

“Of freedom I sing, as far out I swing. 

No wonder I cry, hurrah for the Fourth of July.” 

The firecrackers spoke up: 

“On the Fourth of July there’s always fun. 

You know I imitate an Independence gun.” 

Then all the firecrackers went off, and every flag 
they met had the glorious story of Independence 
to tell. 

Bobby Bright Eyes was so happy and learned to 
much of our nation’s history, that his head could 
hardly contain it all. 


THE HOLIDAY HARE. 


119 


He learned about army and navy flags. 

He learned flag etiquette. 

He learned his own state song, and the position 
of his own state’s star in the flag. 

He saw fine fireworks and one very noisy one 
woke him with a start. 

He said, “That could not have been a dream,” 
and a voice called: 

“I’m the Holiday Hare, again I cry. 

Hurrah, hurrah for the Fourth of July!” 

He could not see the furry gentleman but this 
time he heard his voice so distinctly that he said 
to himself, “I will write down every word of my 
adventures, and then I shall know it was not a 
dream.” 

Bobby Bright Eyes wrote a wonderful story 
about the flags and Liberty Bell, and when in the 
fall the children in school had to write a patriotic 
selection and a prize was to be awarded, all of 
them sat breathless to see who would receive it. 

Long ago the Holiday Hare had whispered to 
Bobby Bright Eyes: 

“You can get it if you only try. 

Hurrah, hurrah for the Fourth of July!’* 

Down the aisle came the teacher with the shining 
medal and pinned it on Bobby Bright Eyes’ coat. 


120 


THE HOLIDAY HARE. 


All the children clapped their hands as a pair of 
long ears appeared at the window. 

Bobby Bright Eyes fairly shouted: 

“I’m very happy I do declare, 

It’s all on account of the Holiday Hare, 

Let’s march with our flags and hold them high 
Hurrah, hurrah for the Fourth of July I” 


r’ 


S AND V "ELITE” SERIES 


Moth 

Moth 

Fairy 


er Goose 
er Goose 
Tales 


and Her Goslinj^s 
Nursery Rhymes 


Delightful Stories for Children 

— By ElizaLetK Billings Stuart 


All of these books are made in the 
same beautiful style as this hook, with 
colored illustrations by Clara M. Burd 
and black and white illustrations by 
Violet Moore Higgins 


At Your Book Store 


CHICAGO 

SlANToNanaVANVDET (§. 

PUBLISHERS 









II 


<€ 

v:. 

A 


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